The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has sounded a warning to erstwhile Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against making what the commission termed as 'reckless remarks'.
In a statement on Monday, March 3, the commission revealed that Gachagua had been served with a notice of cessation.
"The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has issued a cessation notice to former Deputy President, E.G.H. Rigathi Gachagua, urging him to desist from making utterances that contravene the NCI Act No. 12 of 2008," the statement read.
NCIC, in their statement, suggested Gachagua was in constant violation of NCI Act No. 12 of 2008, which outlaws discrimination on ethnic, racial, and religious grounds.
Section 13 of the Act also criminalises hate speech, making it an offence for anyone, particularly political figures, to use threatening, abusive, or insulting words against any person, group, or community.
The NCIC, in their statement, particularly cited one of Gachagua's latest comments regarding the embattled Chief Justice Martha Koome, where the former DP vowed to lead protests if Koome was removed from office.
Gachagua, while speaking during a church service at AIPCA StJoseph's KK Garu Church on February 23 in Antubetwe-Kiongo Ward, Igembe North in Meru County, was thoroughly critical of President William Ruto who he accused of trying to muffle political influence in Mount Kenya.
"We know he is planning to impeach Koome," Gachagua said. "This is too much now. How do you purge the leadership of an entire community that made you president?"
These comments, coupled with Gachagua challenging the Meru community to protest Koome's impeachment, were noted as inciteful by the NCIC.
"Your allegation that there is a scheme hatched by the President to remove the Chief Justice from office because of her ethnicity is misleading and meant to promote negative ethnicity and likely to incite feelings of animosity among Kenyans thus undermining peaceful co-existence," the NCIC observed.
The commission further accused Gachagua of sending a threatening message when he warned President Ruto against stepping into the Meru region if Koome lost her seat.
During his tirade in February Gachagua further warned the leaders that they would be bundled out of office in the upcoming elections through his 'political vehicle', which he plans to name in May 2025.
The NCIC's statement comes amid a growing pattern of Gachagua frequently criticizing the government, especially during church services.
Gachagua's recent pattern also sparked some criticism from Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who criticized the press for giving Gachagua airtime, claiming it could result in chaos before the 2027 elections.
