NCIC summons Gachagua over alleged hate speech and incitement utterances in Meru, Kisii, Vihiga
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to appear before the commission over remarks it says are under investigation for possible hate speech and incitement.
According to a summons dated August 18, 2026, Gachagua has been directed to appear before the commission at Britam Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Thursday, August 27, at 2pm to assist with ongoing investigations.
The commission said the investigations relate to various utterances allegedly made by Gachagua on different dates and at public gatherings across the country.
One of the incidents cited is an alleged statement made on February 23, 2026, at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County, where the commission says Gachagua made remarks targeting Nyaribari Chache MP Zagheer Jhanda and questioned his presence in the area.
The summons quotes him as saying:
“Mimi nataka msaide Matiang’i mtamsaidia? Mtaisaidia kiongozi? Mmsaidie kufukuza wasaliti ya jamii ya wakisii. Hapa Nyaribari hapa ni Chache, hapa Nyaribari Chache hapa wasaliti wa jamii ambao wanasaliti Matiang’i kwa kasono ni yule muhindi mliachagua hapa kama mjumbe, harambee!! Huyo muhindi aende asiende? Wangapi wanasema muhindi aende muhindi aende?”
The commission also cited remarks allegedly made during Gachagua’s tour of Meru between July 25 and July 28, 2026. According to the summons, he used the phrases “tuta ua nyoka pamoja na mayai” and “kufukuza William Ruto kwa kura” while addressing public gatherings.
The commission’s document states that Gachagua explained the remarks as figurative language, saying they referred to removing President William Ruto and his supporters through the ballot.
“Jana nimesema ya kwamba tuta ua nyoka pamoja na mayai nimeona huyu Murkomen ati waulize sisi ati kwa nini tunasema hivyo, sisi tuseme hatuna hate speech sisi tunatumia figurative language na sisi ni wanafunzi wa literature, kumuua nyoka ni kufukuza William Ruto kwa kura, kuua mayai ni kufukuza wafuasi wake wote wake kura. That is what we mean, to NCIC kama mnataka explanation mniadikie barua nitajibu nyinyi but we speak in figurative language.”
The commission further cited remarks in which Gachagua allegedly accused President William Ruto of seeking to eliminate political leadership from the Mt. Kenya region and criticised leaders who had supported his administration. It also quoted him urging residents to send a “very strong signal” to leaders he described as having betrayed the Mt. Kenya community.
In another incident, the commission cited remarks allegedly made by Gachagua during a public rally in Luanda, Vihiga County, on June 12, where he said:
“Na macuzo sisi si ni macousin? Si sisi ni familia moja? Huyu kasongo alikuwa anapiga kelele ati Riggy G amesema macuzo wakae pamoja, wewe kasongo wachana na familia yetu, enda utafute macousin yako huko Sudan pamoja uliwacha macuzo yako, aende Sudan asiende?”
The NCIC warned that failure to honour the summons could result in an arrest warrant being issued to compel Gachagua’s appearance before the commission. It added that failure to appear at the specified date, time and place could also lead to criminal and/or contempt proceedings against him.
