NCIC Warns Gachagua Over Ethnic Remarks About Chief Justice Koome's Removal

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been warned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over statements the commission deems likely to incite ethnic animosity and violence.

The NCIC issued the warning in a letter dated February 27, following Gachagua's recent remarks concerning petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Martha Koome. Gachagua, speaking in Meru, alleged that President William Ruto was plotting Chief Justice Koome's removal ahead of the 2027 elections due to her ethnicity. NCIC Chairperson Samuel Kobia states that Gachagua's allegations were misleading, risked inciting Kenyans, and undermined peaceful coexistence.

Kobia further notes that such statements promoted negative ethnicity and could agitate the Ameru community. The NCIC also criticizes Gachagua's assertion that President Ruto should not visit Meru County if Chief Justice Koome were removed from office. The commission argues that this statement infringed upon the president's constitutional right to visit any part of the country as a symbol of national unity.

The NCIC emphasizes the constitutional right to freedom of speech but cautions Gachagua against engaging in propaganda, incitement to violence, hate speech, or advocacy of hatred based on discrimination. The commission expresses concerns that such utterances could incite animosity between communities, thereby threatening national cohesion and unity.

Gachagua, since leaving office, has become a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza regime, accusing it of governance failures. His criticisms have largely targeted President Ruto, whom he accuses of betrayal and of orchestrating his impeachment just two years after Gachagua helped him secure the presidency. Gachagua has vowed to lead the opposition and deny Ruto a second term in the 2027 general election.