The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), has summoned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his remarks, on possible post election violence comments in the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday May 21, 2025, NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia said Gachagua’s comparison of the 2007 post-election violence to a “Christmas party” was inflammatory and deeply insensitive. 

Although NCIC did not provide a specific date for Gachagua to appear at their offices,  the commission confirmed they had summoned him and were working with relevant government authorities to hold him accountable.

“We are working closely with relevant government agencies to ensure Rigathi Gachagua is held accountable. Reckless speech from any leader will not be tolerated,” Kobia said.

At the same time, NCIC issued a strong warning against inflammatory statements from citizens and leaders, emphasizing that this trend was interfering with national unity.

“To refer to the 2007/2008 post-election violence as a ‘Christmas party’ is appalling and there is absolutely nothing festive about death, displacement and the trauma thousands of Kenyans still live with today,” said Kobia.

“Such trivialisation shows a stark insensitivity to victims’ memories and the remarkable resilience of survivors. We must never forget the over 1,000 lives lost and the widespread devastation of that period,” he added. 

Kobia argued that such inflammatory talk threatens national cohesion, promotes division rather than unity in the country.

“The practice of using these inflammatory utterances has posed a severe risk to the national cohesion which is leading to division rather than unity,” he stated.

This was after the former DP suggested during an interview recently, that if the upcoming 2027 elections were rigged, the resulting chaos would make the 2007 violence look like a Christmas party.

However, Gachagua, who recently launched the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has denied making utterances that promote violence. 

According to the former DP, he was only expressing concerns about potential unrest if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) fails to deliver free and fair elections.

“I did not say there will be violence. I have also pleaded with the IEBC to remain patriotic because history has shown us what can happen when elections are contested,” said Gachagua.