NCIC Wants DCI To Arrest 10 MPs, Including Oscar Sudi, Farah Maalim

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has called for the arrest and prosecution of over 10 Members of Parliament, as it sounded a warning to lawmakers and political leaders over increased cases of hate speech, particularly on social media.

Speaking to the press, NCIC Vice Chairperson Wambui Nyutu on Thursday, January 23 revealed that the Commission had concluded investigations against the accused lawmakers including Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Farah Maalim (Dadaab), and Dan Wanyama (Webuye West).

The commission has further forwarded their files to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) calling for their arrest.

"We have more than 10 politicians (Farah Maalim, Dan Wanyama, and Oscar Sudi) who have been using language that can incite Kenyans. We have even completed our investigations and forwarded the files to DCI and if the DCI does take the next step which is to arrest and charge these criminals and the DPP takes them to court and there is prosecution, we will have made progress," Nyutu told reporters.

NCIC chairperson Samuel Kobia and the team addressing the press on January 23, 2025. /NCIC

NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia in a separate press conference reiterated the commission's mandate to facilitate and promote equality of opportunity, good relations, harmony and peaceful coexistence of different ethnic, racial and religious communities in Kenya.

However, the commission raised alarm regarding the surge in deeply divisive rhetorics which verge on hate speech and ethnic contempt, that has plagued the social media platforms as well as the public rallies in recent weeks. 

"As the nation’s voice of reason, we DEMAND an immediate return to order and decorum. These reckless utterances are not short of a call to war and have ABSOLUTELY no place in Kenya. We shall not stand by and let this poison our nation’s peace and social cohesion fragile fabric.  We therefore warn against the use and misuse of social media including hatemongers and inciters," Kobia warned.

"Any utterances akin to negative ethnicity are absolutely inexcusable, specifically considering that Kenya is home to over 45 ethnic groups. The Constitution 2010, Article 33 guarantees freedom of expression, but it is very clear that the same Constitution does not guarantee freedom to propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech, advocacy of hatred that constitutes ethnic incitement, vilification of others or incitement to cause harm based on any ground of discrimination; and the National Cohesion Act 2008 Section 13 (1) (a) and Section 62 alongside numerous other laws, unequivocally protects the rights of all Kenyans, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or political affiliations."

The commission also reiterated that the Constitution further states that in the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, every person shall respect the rights and reputation of others. "In dealing with the offenders, we welcome the President’s call to stop abductions and forced disappearances," Kobia continued.

The commission also firmly urged all Kenyans, including political leaders, to exercise tolerance in both their actions and speech, as it continues its mandate to promote national identity, unity, and values, and to mitigate ethnopolitical competition and ethnically motivated violence.

"Utterances such as US-VERSES THEM particularly from the political class continue to divide the country and this MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY.  It is imperative that we all protect and safeguard the peace and cohesion Kenya has worked tirelessly to build over the past six decades.

"And what has taken that long to build can be destroyed in a matter of days.  We must prioritize unity and ensure that divisive rhetoric has no place in our society," added NCIC.

The scathing statement from NCIC comes at a time when there is unprecedented tension in the country as far as the political landscape is concerned. With the general elections more than 30 months away, gloves appear to be off among leaders belonging to different political factions, who are keen to get an edge over their political adversaries.

Recently former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took his opposition against President William Ruto to live broadcasts on social media, unleashing more bombshells against him.

Ruto, meanwhile, has been on a Western tour to launch different projects, and also recently openly slammed Gachagua for allegedly playing divisive politics.

"There are some people who we gave them work and because of incompetence, not understanding anything, theft, conmanship, corruption, hatred, their plan and work flopped. I want to tell them that they will continue failing because Kenya does not have any space for people who are corrupt, do not know how to work, and are tribalists.

"We have no time for tribalist people who are incompetent and those who want to divide our nation into ethnic, parochial, and personal lines. We are united as a people and Kenya is going to march forward as one indivisible country," he said.

Gachagua hit back at Ruto, noting that Kenyans were well aware of who was truly corrupt and incompetent in the country. In an engagement with Kenyans on TikTok on Thursday, January 23, the impeached second-in-commend asserted that the events of the past two years demonstrated outright incompetence of the government and added that Kenyans were fully aware of the prevailing issues.

"When you talk about corruption, people of this country know who is corrupt. When you talk about incompetence, people know who is incompetent. That is where we are as a country. If you ask people what has happened in this country in two years, that is sheer incompetence.

"When you talk about people who are corrupt and incompetent, just take the mirror and look at yourself because Kenyans know better. They know exactly where we are. People are very intelligent,” he said.