Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has urged Rev. Samuel Kobia, Chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), and his team to resign, accusing them of failing to fulfill their mandate.
Cheruiyot claimed that NCIC has remained silent amid Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's allegedly divisive remarks, one of the 11 reasons behind the impeachment motion against the DP.
During the Senate's notice of motion on Gachagua’s impeachment, Cheruiyot expressed disappointment with the NCIC’s inefficiency. He questioned the continued funding of the commission by taxpayers while it appears to neglect its responsibility of fostering national unity.
He pointed out that the NCIC, established after the 2010 Constitution, was meant to promote cohesion, especially among leaders, but it has fallen short of this expectation.
Cheruiyot criticized Rev. Kobia’s recent remarks, warning that Gachagua’s impeachment could cause national division, comparing the commission’s actions under the current and previous administrations.
He highlighted a 2022 ban on the phrase "hatupangwingwi," associated with Deputy President William Ruto’s political camp, arguing that it was deemed divisive then, while the NCIC has remained silent in the face of Gachagua's alleged inflammatory comments.
The Senator expressed frustration that NCIC had been quick to censor specific phrases in the past but failed to take action against more severe divisive rhetoric. He called for a comprehensive audit of public institutions, including NCIC, to determine their effectiveness and ensure taxpayer funds are not wasted.
Cheruiyot concluded by urging NCIC commissioners to resign at the end of the impeachment process. He stated that Kenya deserves leaders committed to fostering national unity rather than those supporting divisive narratives.
He stressed the need for a new commission that better serves the nation’s cohesion goals.
