Why NCIC should not be disbanded, but must step up
By Aloys Michael, July 20, 2025The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is facing increasing criticism from Kenyans, and rightly so.
Its role, once envisioned as a safeguard for national unity and a deterrent to hate speech, has become blurry and, at times, suspiciously biased.
The accusations that it only swings into action when it serves government interests are not unfounded. Yet, calls to disband the NCIC are premature and shortsighted. Instead, the institution must be reformed, revitalised, and held accountable to its constitutional duty.
Let’s be clear: Kenya needs the NCIC. In a country still healing from past ethnic tensions, especially the post-election violence of 2007-2008, an institution dedicated to fostering cohesion is not just important; it’s essential. The NCIC was designed to ensure that Kenya does not repeat the mistakes of its past and to help the country walk the difficult path of reconciliation, inclusivity, and shared identity.
But Kenyans are right to question whether the NCIC, as it currently operates, is doing justice to this mandate. The perception, and in many cases, reality, is that the commission is selective in its outrage. When politicians from government-aligned quarters spew reckless tribal rhetoric or incite division, the NCIC is either silent or issues lukewarm statements. On the other hand, opposition voices are swiftly reprimanded. This inconsistency undermines public trust and fuels the very divisions the NCIC is meant to bridge.
That said, the solution is not to scrap the institution but to compel it to do better. Constitutionalism must be the commission’s north star. The law applies equally to all citizens, regardless of status, party affiliation, or political proximity.
The NCIC must, without fear or favour, call out every leader or politician who spews divisive baloney, whether they sit in cabinet offices or on opposition benches. Kenyans are tired of selective justice masquerading as cohesion work.
Sanitise NCIC
Globally, institutions similar to the NCIC have been instrumental in fostering peaceful, pluralistic societies. South Africa’s Human Rights Commission, for example, has played a critical role in challenging hate speech and promoting inclusivity in a deeply divided post-apartheid society. Canada’s multiculturalism policies, supported by active state bodies, have enabled integration without assimilation, celebrating diversity while promoting unity.
In Rwanda, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission was central in steering the country from genocide to relative stability. These are not perfect societies, but they show what’s possible when institutions are empowered, impartial, and focused on healing and inclusion.
Kenya should be learning from such examples, not watching its institutions add fuel to political fires. When the NCIC appears to favour one side, it becomes part of the problem rather than the solution. In a society as ethnically and politically complex as Kenya’s, this is dangerous.
Yet we must not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The NCIC has had moments where its presence has calmed tensions, or where its interventions, however mild, have kept potential conflict in check. But these moments are too few and far between. What Kenyans demand now is an NCIC that is bold, balanced, and rooted in justice.
It’s time for a reset. The NCIC must re-earn its legitimacy by standing on principle and acting swiftly and impartially. It must actively challenge political hooliganism, whether in Parliament, on campaign trails, or at funerals disguised as political rallies. It must engage citizens directly, especially the youth, in redefining what unity means in a modern Kenya.
If the NCIC fails to evolve, it will become irrelevant or, worse, dangerous. But if it rises to the occasion, it could become one of the most important institutions in Kenya’s journey toward a peaceful, democratic, and just society. Disbanding it is not the answer. Demanding it lives up to its mandate is.