NCIC Warns Gachagua Over Telling Ruto Not To Visit Meru

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has warned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against making what the commission believed were 'reckless' remarks.

In a statement on Monday, March 3, the commission announced that Gachagua had received a notice to cease such remarks.

"The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has issued a cessation notice to former Deputy President, E.G.H. Rigathi Gachagua, urging him to desist from making utterances that contravene the NCI Act No. 12 of 2008," the statement read.

"We continue to urge all Kenyans to uphold tolerance and respect, regardless of their political or social differences." NCIC, in their statement, suggested Gachagua was in constant violation of NCI Act No. 12 of 2008, which outlaws discrimination on ethnic, racial, and religious grounds.

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

Section 13 of the Act also criminalises hate speech, making it an offence for anyone, particularly political figures, to use threatening, abusive, or insulting words against any person, group, or community.

NCIC made reference to Gachagua's rant on the subject of embattled Chief Justice Martha Koome, to which he warned the Head of State against visiting Meru should the CJ be removed from office.

He was speaking on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at AIPCA Antubetwe Kiongo Church Igembe North within Meru County, with NCIC accusing him of making utterances and/or statements meant to stir up the emotions of a section of members of the Ameru community.

"The President has planned to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome. He began with Rigathi Gachagua, he impeached him. He then kicked out Mithika Linturi. He has now planned a tribunal to kick out Martha Koome. He has organised with the courts and bribed people to kick out Koome," Gachagua revealed then.

"He wants to finish off all businesses of the people of Mt Kenya when he kicks out these people. But I want to tell the President that if you kick out Martha Koome, do not set foot in Meru. You impeached Rigathi Gachagua, and the Mt Kenya people kept quiet; you thought they were cowards. We are telling you, Mr President, you go ahead and remove Martha Koome as you stay in Nairobi and never set foot in Meru again!"

Gachagua's remarks, as well as those challenging the Meru community to protest her impeachment, were viewed as incitement by NCIC.

"Your allegation that there is a scheme hatched by the President to remove the Chief Justice from Office because of her ethnicity is misleading and meant to promote negative ethnicity and likely to incite feelings of animosity among Kenyans, thus undermining the peaceful co-existence," stated NCIC.

The commission also accused Gachagua of sending a threatening message to the Head of State, terming the remarks a direct violation of the President's constitutional right as the symbol of national unity to visit any part of the Country to discharge his official duties as the duly and lawfully elected president of the republic of Kenya.

"Having reviewed the statement/utterances attributed to you, the Commission cautions you to exercise more restraint and choose your words more carefully. Whereas the freedom of speech is guaranteed by our Constitution, you are advised not to engage in utterances that amount to propaganda for war, incitement to violence, hate speech or advocacy of hatred based on discrimination," added the commission.

"Our concern as a Commission is that such utterances could stir feelings of animosity between communities, which is not good for Kenya. NOW THEREFORE, in the interest of national cohesion and unity, we do ask you to desist from such or similar utterances/conduct the particulars of which are best within your knowledge from the date of this notice, as they are likely to interfere with the peaceful and harmonious co-existence of ethnic groups."

In his February outburst, Gachagua went further, warning leaders that they would be removed from office in the next elections through his own 'political vehicle,' which he intends to name in May 2025.

The NCIC's statement comes as Gachagua continues to repeatedly criticize the government, particularly during church services.

His recent remarks have also drawn criticism from Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who condemned the media for giving Gachagua coverage, arguing that it could incite chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.