The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has made clear that it will not launch investigations based on social media clips, insisting that formal complaints must first be lodged before any action is taken.
NCIC Chairperson Bishop Dr. Kepha Nyamweya Omae made the clarification while addressing the press on Tuesday, 28th July, explaining that the commission operates under specific legal guidelines that govern how it carries out its mandate.
“Before we carry out any investigation, it is important for Kenyans to know there has to be complaints. You don’t begin to act on TikTok clips,” he said.
He added that acting on unverified clips would put the commission in a difficult position, particularly given the risk of AI-generated content.
“Until someone raises a formal complaint, it puts us in a very awkward situation because we don’t know whether the clip that was sent was AI-generated. We have to be sure it is a legitimate complaint,” Omae stated.
The NCIC confirmed that formal complaints have placed ten prominent Kenyans under its radar for remarks the commission says could amount to hate speech or ethnic incitement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Those under probe include former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health CS Aden Duale, and Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, alongside Busia Governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim Mohamud, Sirisia MP John Koyi Waluke, and four others; Wanjiku Muhia, David Gikaria, Tipape Naini Musa, and Dr Dennis Adison Ouma.
The commission’s Investigations and Compliance Department is conducting independent probes into remarks attributed to the individuals, with NCIC warning that no one is immune from the law.
Gachagua, who is being investigated over his “killing the snake and its eggs” remarks, has dared the NCIC to come for him, insisting his words were figurative and rooted in literary expression.
“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 said during an event in Meru on Tuesday.
Omae added that the commission was welcome to write to him formally if it intended to pursue the matter.
NCIC also used the occasion to appeal to political leaders to refrain from mobilising goons during political engagements, calling on them to uphold political modesty as the country heads into a heightened campaign period ahead of 2027.
