Cherargei asks NCIC to crack the whip after summoning Gachagua
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has challenged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to rein in politicians engaging in hateful and divisive political rhetoric.
Speaking during a live TV interview on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Cherargei commended the summoning of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by the commission, urging them to remain steadfast in their mandate of safeguarding integration.
Cherargei maintains that no politician should be spared for attempting to divide Kenyans along tribal or ethnic lines.
“I urge NCIC to crack down on any other leaders, including leaders from our political divide, who make inciteful statements. They should not fear anybody, and it is the reason that we are saying nobody is above the law,” the senator said.
Cherargei, while referencing Gachagua’s statement on May 16, 2025, where he warned that electoral malpractice in the 2027 elections could lead to a repeat of the 2007/2008 post-election violence, termed the comments as reckless.
The senator emphasised the need for Gachagua to honour the summons and explain his remarks.
“I want to strongly condemn the statement of former DP Gachagua. The remarks were unfortunate and inciting to the public. That was too low for a leader who held the second most powerful office,” he stated.
“We should be responsible as leaders and careful about what we say as leaders. The unity, stability and cohesiveness of this country must be protected. We cannot, as leaders, be the ones making such reckless statements.
“No one is above the law. The former Deputy President should appear before them and tell the country what he meant. I have personally appeared before it, and we must submit to institutions we created.”
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, NCIC chairperson Samuel Kobia revealed that the commission had summoned the former DP and that they are waiting for Gachagua to honour the summons.
Kobia registered the commission’s concerns with remarks he said were not only appalling but dangerously insensitive to the pain, loss and trauma suffered by thousands of Kenyans.
“We have summoned Rigathi Gachagua on other matters because some weeks back, we also censured him publicly because of some utterances that he made. So, yes, we have summoned him, and once he comes, we will go through it,” he revealed.
“The commission is working closely with other relevant government agencies to hold Rigathi Gachagua responsible and accountable for these reckless utterances.”
During the press conference, NCIC equally cautioned political leaders against remarks which may destabilise the nation by creating division, suspicion and hatred.
“We are seeing a dangerous return to politics of ethnicity, which undermines the gains made in promoting issue-based leadership,” Kobia stated.
The foregoing comes after NCIC sent out a clear message urging on safeguarding of Kenya’s unity.
“As the country moves toward the 2027 elections, political leadership must focus on policies and ideas that unite rather than divide,” part of their statement read.
