Kenya’s peace monitoring body, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), has issued official summons to nominated Member of Parliament Joseph Wainaina Iraya to answer allegations of hate speech and ethnic incitement.
The directive, announced Tuesday, September 1, 2026, requires the legislator to present himself at the NCIC headquarters at Britam Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Thursday, September 17, at 10:00 AM to assist with ongoing investigations.
According to the commission, the probe stems from an address given by MP Wainaina on August 29 in Ngeria, Uasin Gishu County. During the rally, the MP reportedly made inflammatory statements targeting non-aligned political figures, questioned the loyalty of specific ethnic voter bases, and made controversial references regarding political opposition.
The summonses cite provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, which grant the NCIC power to investigate actions, utterances, and conduct that threaten national unity or incite public disorder.
The watchdog explicitly warned that failing to appear before the commission will trigger the immediate issuance of warrants of arrest and lead to formal legal proceedings for contempt.
The action against Wainaina coincides with a broader push by state agencies to curb rising political tensions. The NCIC has similarly summoned Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and recently investigated other lawmakers—including Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia—over incendiary remarks made at public gatherings.
“Failure to appear in person will lead to warrants of arrest being issued… and the institution of criminal and/or contempt proceedings against you.”
The commission is expected to review media recordings and transcripts of the speech alongside statements from the accused MP. Should the NCIC establish a prima facie case of ethnic incitement or offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace following the September 17 hearing, the matter will be referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for prosecution.
