Gachagua dares NCIC to summon him over 'snake and eggs' remarks

Speaking on Monday during an event in Buuri, Meru County, the former Deputy President maintained that his statements were directed at both President William Ruto and his allies, and challenged the commission to formally write to him if it intended to pursue the matter.

"Jana nimesema ya kwamba tutauwa nyoka pamoja na mayai. Nimeona huyu Murkomen ati anasukuma watu wa NCIC ati waulize sisi kwa nini tunasema hivyo," Gachagua said.

"Sisi tuseme hatuna hatespeech, sisi tunatumia figurative language kwa sababu sisi ni wanafunzi wa literature. Kumuuwa nyoka ni kufukuza William Ruto kwa kura, kuuwa mayai ni kufukuza wafuasi wake wote kwa kura. That is what we mean."

He went on to challenge the commission directly, insisting his words were rooted in literary expression.

"So NCIC kama mnataka explanation mniandikie barua naeza jibu nyinyi that we speak in figurative language. Sisi tunasema kuuwa nyoka ni kufukuza William Ruto kwa kura, kuuwa nyoka pamoja na mayai ni kufukuza wale wote ambao wanatembea na Ruto kupitia kura kwa sababu sisi we speak in proverbs, we speak in symbolism and figurative language for effective communication," he added.

His remarks followed an announcement by the NCIC that it is investigating ten prominent Kenyans, among them Gachagua and two sitting Cabinet Secretaries, over alleged hate speech and ethnic incitement ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the commission, in partnership with the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), warned that no person was beyond the reach of the law where credible allegations arose.

The scrutiny of Gachagua also comes after Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei petitioned the NCIC to investigate and prosecute the former Deputy President over public statements the senator says amount to ethnic profiling.

During the Buuri event, Gachagua turned his attention to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, criticising him for ignoring earlier warnings and telling him to "deal with his own struggles." He claimed that Ruto was the mastermind behind Kindiki's current political troubles, reminding him of a previous caution "not to dance on the grave of your brother."

The DCP leader had earlier struck a similar tone during a media roundtable in July, when he claimed that Kindiki was quietly enduring mounting political pressure because of his position within the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"Our son from Tharaka is suffering, I know what he is going through because I went through the same. Being that I was elected, I was tough headed, no one could insult me. Even Junet's statements, it is Ruto who told them," he claimed.