The Kikuyu Council of Elders has held a crisis meeting in Eldoret following alleged incitement remarks by Nominated MP Joseph Wainaina who has been summoned by the NCIC.
The elders condemned the remarks and urged communities in the region to continue co-existing and ignore utterances meant to cause animosity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Chairman of the elders council in the region Dr Mwangi Mwaniki distanced the community from the remarks made by Wainaina saying communities should focus on peace and unity ahead of the polls.
“We condemn those remarks because as communities in this region we have lived in peace and will not entertain anyone seeking to divide us”, said Dr Mwaniki.
He said their role as elders was to preach peace and unity regardless of the political situation in the country.
Dr Mwaniki said political leaders should go out to sell their agenda to the electorate without using threats, hate or tribalism.
“Let our leaders tell the people what they will do if elected. Preaching hate and disunity does not help in any way and only risks to destroy the stability of our nation”, said Dr Mwaniki.
The elders also also included Naomi Wanjiru who is chairlady of the women elders wing and Kaguru Wa Ndungu who is organizing secretary of the council.
Kaguru said the elders were concerned with hate remarks made by several leaders in the recent past.
“We are asking the NCIC to act on all such leaders propagating incitement because we need peace in this country. Elections will come and go but Kenya must remain peaceful as our home”, said Kaguru.
The elders said they were working closely with elders and other leaders from all communities in the region to sensitize residents on the need to keep peace and unity.
Kaguru said they were sure the government would put in place a good environment for Kenyans to exercise their political rights freely.
At the same time Uasin Gishu County Assembly has asked the NCIC to act tough on political leaders propagating hate and incitement which MCAs say could cause animosity ahead of next years polls.
Speaker of the assembly Phillip Muigei and MCAs criticized recent remarks by nominated MP Joseph Wainaina which have sparked anger from other leaders and residents in the region.
“We have had leaders making utterances which are likely to destabilize our nation. We are asking they all the leaders should desist from such behavior especially as we move to the elections period”, said Muigei.
He said they want all leaders to campaign peacefully because we have one country which we have to safeguard at all costs.
They spoke as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission summonedWainaina to appear before it over utterances he allegedly made during a public address in Uasin Gishu county.
In a summons dated August 31, the commission directed Wainaina to appear at its offices in Nairobi on September 17 at 10 am to assist with ongoing investigations.
The MP is being investigated over remarks made while addressing residents of Ngeria in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu county, on August 29.
NCIC said the summons was issued under provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act that deal with, among other issues, hate speech and conduct likely to undermine national cohesion.
“WHEREAS the National Cohesion and Integration Commission is investigating utterances made by you while publicly addressing Kapseret residents in Ngeria, Uasin Gishu County on 29th August 2026,” the summons states.
The commission said Iraya was required to appear in person to assist investigators with the matter.
“Pursuant thereto, you are hereby summoned to appear before the Commission situated at Britam Towers, Upper Hill, on Thursday, 17th September 2026 at 10 am so as to assist the Commission with the ongoing investigations,” the notice reads.
NCIC warned that failure to honour the summons could trigger further action, including the issuance of warrants of arrest or the institution of criminal or contempt proceedings.
“Take notice that failure to appear in person at the aforementioned place, date, and time will lead to warrants of arrest being issued for your arrest and production before the Commission and/or the institution of criminal and/or contempt proceedings against you,” commission CEO Daniel Mutegi said.
Muigei said leaders who spew hate hate should not be entertained at all.
“Eldoret is a cosmopolitan county we condemn any utterances that seek to target one community in this region. This region went through a bad period in 2007/8 and we can not afford to repeat the same again”, said Muigei.
He said they would encourage all residents to go on with their usual bussiness in the region without fear because those who thrive on hatred would not be entertained.
Deputy Speaker Sarah Malel who was also present asked leaders to campaign peacefully and ask for votes without using incitement or threats.
Community leaders led by Benjamin Leting and human rights crusader Kimutai Kirui asked leaders to stop turning president Ruto’s re-election campaign into a tribal issue.
“Those campaigning for Ruto should use his record so far to push for his re-election and avoid trivializing his success stories by invoking tribalism”, said Kirui.
Leting said UDA should recall Wainaina because he was unfit to be a leader by making such utterances.
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