The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned two members of parliament over remarks made during separate public events.
Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama and Starehe MP Amos Mwago have been directed to appear before the commission’s offices at Britam Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi, as part of an investigation into their public statements.
In a statement released on January 27, 2025, the commission stated that the lawmakers’ statements violated the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
“The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is established by an Act of Parliament, the National Cohesion and Integration Act No. 12 of 2008 and has a mandate to promote national unity and harmony by promoting peaceful relations among communities, particularly by guarding against negative ethnicity, racism and religious intolerance. The scope of the Commission’s mandate is provided under Section 25 of the Act. Pursuant to the above-mentioned mandate, the Commission is investigating remarks and utterances you made,” the statement reads in part.
According to the summons, Webuye West MP Wanyama is required to appear on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, following controversial remarks he made during an Interdenominational Prayer event at Cheptais Boys’ High School in Bungoma County on January 19, 2025.
The comments have been characterized by the commission as potentially inciteful.
Starehe MP Amos Mwago, on the other hand, is scheduled to appear before the commission on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
His summons relate to statements he made that compared various presidential leadership periods and included potentially discriminatory remarks regarding ethnic communities and political leadership.
The acting secretary and chief executive officer (CEO) of the commission Harrison Kariuki cautioned the two MPs against failing to honour the summons.
“Whereas that failure to appear in person at the aforementioned place, date, and time, is an offence as provided under Section 63(c) as read with Section 63(e) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act,” the statement reads.
Both MPs are being investigated for potentially violating Section 13(1)(a) of the Act, which prohibits speech likely to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence, or discrimination.
Previous NCIC summons
In a statement on Tuesday, August 3, 2024, NCIC summoned Embakasi North MP James Gakuya.
The commission accused Gakuya of propagating ethnic conflict and directed him to appear before them on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
According to the NCIC, the MP reportedly made inflammatory comments in his vernacular language.
“You are required to appear at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission offices located at Britam Towers, Upper Hill, 18th Floor, Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM to assist the Commission with the ongoing investigations,” NCIC stated at the time.
Additionally, the NCIC summoned Daadab MP Farah Maalim to appear before them on July 11, 2024, to clarify controversial comments he made regarding protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
The commission cited his remarks made in Somali, in which he stated he would “slaughter 5,000 Gen Z protesters” if he were president of Kenya.
“These utterances are likely to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence or discrimination, and they affect the harmonious coexistence of groups with differing political affiliations in Kenya, contrary to Section 13(1)(a) of the NCI Act,” the NCIC said in a previous statement.
