Leaders from Uasin Gishu have demanded that nominated MP Joseph Wainaina be recalled following allegations of incitement.
The call came even as Uasin Gishu MCAs asked the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to take tough action against politicians accused of propagating hate speech and incitement ahead of next year’s general election.
Led by their speaker Phillip Muigei, the MCAs criticised recent remarks attributed to nominated MP Joseph Wainaina, saying such utterances could fuel animosity among communities in the region.
Muigei said leaders must desist from making remarks that could destabilise the country as the 2027 elections approach.
“We have had leaders making utterances which are likely to destabilise our nation. We are asking that all leaders should desist from such behaviour, especially as we move to the elections period,” he said.
He urged politicians to campaign peacefully, saying the country must be safeguarded at all costs.
The leaders spoke after NCIC summoned Wainaina to appear before the commission over utterances he allegedly made during a public meeting in Uasin Gishu.
In a summons dated August 31, NCIC secretary Daniel Mutegi directed Wainaina to appear at the commission’s offices at in Nairobi on September 17 to assist with investigations.
Wainaina is being investigated over remarks made while addressing residents of Ngeria in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu, on August 29.
NCIC said Wainaina is required to appear in person to assist investigators.
It warned that failure to honour the summons could trigger further action, including warrants of arrest or 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,” Mutegi said.
Muigei said leaders who promote hate should not be entertained.
“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 2007/08 and we cannot afford to repeat the same,” he said.
He urged residents to continue with their businesses without fear, saying those who thrive on hatred would not be entertained.
Community leaders led by Benjamin Leting and human rights crusader Kimutai Kirui cautioned against turning President William Ruto’s re-election campaign into a tribal contest.
“Those campaigning for Ruto should use his record so far to push for his re-election and avoid trivialising his success stories by invoking tribalism,” Leting said.
Leting called on UDA to recall Wainaina, saying he is unfit to be a leader because of the utterances attributed to him.
Uasin Gishu county assembly deputy speaker Sarah Malel, who was also present, urged politicians to campaign peacefully and seek votes without using incitement or threats.
Instant analysis
The warning from Uasin Gishu leaders comes at a sensitive moment as political activity gathers pace ahead of the 2027 General Election. The region’s reference to the 2007/08 post-election violence underlines the fear that inflammatory rhetoric could reopen old communal fault lines. The NCIC summons to nominated MP Joseph Wainaina signals that the commission is increasingly willing to scrutinise politicians whose public remarks may threaten national cohesion. More importantly, the intervention by county leaders suggests growing concern that tribal mobilisation could overshadow issues-based campaigning. With Uasin Gishu being politically significant, how leaders handle their rhetoric could shape whether the region remains peaceful or becomes a flashpoint.
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