National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has challenged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to rebuild public confidence and play a more proactive role in fostering national unity throughout the year rather than only during election periods.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday during a meeting with the Commission led by Chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae, Wetang’ula said NCIC must address the challenges that have undermined its effectiveness and avoid the perception that it only becomes visible during elections.
“NCIC suffers from serious trust issues. The Commission was established after the 2007 post-election violence to help unite the country and bridge political divisions. It should not only be active during election periods,” said Wetang’ula.
The Speaker emphasized that sustained civic education is essential in changing attitudes and nurturing long-term national cohesion.
“Changing our mindset through education is far more important,” he said.
While acknowledging the importance of ethnic identity, Wetang’ula cautioned against its misuse to foster discrimination and division.
“There is nothing wrong with belonging to a particular ethnic community. The problem arises when that identity is used to oppress and disadvantage others,” he said.
He further urged the Commission to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education in promoting unity among young people.
“Let us help the Ministry of Education build a culture of unity among our children because they are the ones who will shape the future,” he said.
Wetang’ula also called on NCIC to strengthen its partnerships with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to enhance its effectiveness.
“You have the power to investigate, but prosecution is the responsibility of the Director of Public Prosecutions. NCIC must define its role, put its house in order, and earn the confidence of Kenyans. Parliament will support the Commission within the law,” he said.
The Speaker noted that elections are a continuous process rather than a single-day event and urged the Commission to take a leading role in combating hate speech and divisive politics.
“Elections are not just about voting. They are a process, and NCIC has a critical role in protecting communities from hate speech and leaders who spread division,” he said.
NCIC Chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae said the Commission had already begun preparations for the 2027 General Election through a roadmap focused on prevention, public engagement, and collaboration with other institutions.
“We have a roadmap. We are working with other government agencies and political leaders across the country. Our goal is to reduce political polarisation and ethnic divisions,” Omae said.
He added that the Commission would continue engaging political leaders and encouraging responsible conduct.
“We are asking our leaders to lower the political temperature. We want healthy and peaceful politics,” he said.
Omae further revealed that NCIC would expand its engagement with communities through elders, religious leaders, and other opinion leaders, while also strengthening programmes in schools and other learning institutions.
“We will work with schools and other learning institutions. This roadmap will help us address emerging challenges in our communities,” he said.
NCIC Commissioner Jerusha Mwaathime called for closer collaboration among government agencies and urged Parliament to strengthen the Commission’s investigative mandate.
“We need stronger legal tools to deal with some of the cases we investigate. The Commission’s powers should be expanded to allow more effective investigations,” Mwaathime said.
