NCIC summons Gachagua over alleged inflammatory utterances in Kisii, Meru, Vihiga

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to appear before it over a series of utterances the commission says are under investigation for possible violations relating to hate speech and incitement.

In a summons dated August 18, 2026, the NCIC directed Gachagua to appear before the commission at Britam Towers, 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 forums across the country.

Among the incidents cited by the commission is an alleged utterance made on February 23, 2026, at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County, targeting Nyaribari Chache MP Zagheer Jhanda.

According to the summons, Gachagua allegedly questioned the MP's presence in the area and made remarks concerning his political support base.

The commission quoted 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 statements allegedly made during Gachagua's tour of Meru between July 25 and July 28, 2026.

According to the summons, Gachagua used the phrases “tuta ua nyoka pamoja na mayai” and “kufukuza William Ruto kwa kura” while addressing a public gathering.

The commission's document quotes Gachagua as explaining that his use of the terms was figurative and symbolic, saying they referred to removing President William Ruto from office 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 Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader was quoted as saying.

The commission further cited remarks in which Gachagua allegedly accused the President of seeking to eliminate the political leadership of the Mt. Kenya region and criticised leaders who had supported his administration.

The DCP chief is also quoted as urging residents to send a “very strong signal” to leaders he described as having betrayed the Mt Kenya community.

“I want to tell yoи my pеоple of Meru, huyu Rais tulimchagua tulimpenda alikuja na bibilia tukafikiria ni Mkristo mtu mzuri alitudanganya? hakutudanganya? Tukamchagua kufika pale ametumia hiyo kiti kumaliza watu ya Mount Kenya, ameanza na Rigathi Gachagua amemfukuza, akarudi akafukuza Mithika Linturi sasa amepanga njamaa ya kumfukuza Martha Koome, na amepanga pale kortini anahonga watu kufukuza Martha Koomе,” he is quoted as saying.

“Mimi nakuuliza Rais William Ruto, hii watu ya mlima walikupenda, walikupatia kura uliwadanganya na bibilia, umeamua kumaliza watoto wote kutoka mlima kiongozi yeyote ambaye ako na msimamo umetupangia njama ya kutufukuza katika serikali katika Kenya na anataka akifukuza hii watu amalize biashara zote za watu ya mlima Kenya, lakini mimi nakwambia Rais, ukifukuza Martha Koome usikanyage hapa Meru. Mimi nataka nikuambie ulifukuza Rigathi Gachagua watu ya mlima wakanyamaza, ukafikiria ni waoga, tunakwabia Rais wewe panga njama ufukuze Martha Koome na wewe ukae Nairobi usikanyange hapa Meru tena ukifukuza Martha Koome.”

Gachagua, during a public rally at Luanda in Vihiga County on June 12, is also accused of making the following utterances; “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 has warned Gachagua that failure to attend the summons could result in an arrest warrant being issued for his production before the commission.

The summons states that failure to appear at the specified place, date and time could also lead to the institution of criminal and/or contempt proceedings against him.