Uasin Gishu
county Kikuyu
Council
of Elders
chairman
Mwangi
Mwaniki
addresses the
press in Eldoret
/MATHEW NDANYIEldoret leaders have drawn a red line against hate speech and inflammatory politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
They warned that the region cannot afford a repeat of the violence that followed the 2007 polls.
The warning came as the Kikuyu Council of Elders held a crisis meeting in Eldoret over alleged incitement remarks by Nominated MP Joseph Wainaina, who has been summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
The elders condemned the remarks and urged communities in the region to continue co-existing peacefully.
They also called on residents to ignore utterances intended to create animosity ahead of the elections.
Dr Mwangi Mwaniki, chairman of the elders council in the region, distanced the community from Wainaina’s remarks and called for peace and unity.
“We condemn those remarks because as communities in this region we have lived in peace and will not entertain anyone seeking to divide us,” Mwaniki said.
He said the role of elders was to preach peace and unity regardless of the prevailing political situation.
Mwaniki urged political leaders to sell their agendas to voters without resorting to 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 destroying the stability of our nation,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Naomi Wanjiru, chairlady of the women elders’ wing and Kaguru Wa Ndungu, the council’s organising secretary.
Kaguru said the elders were concerned about hate remarks made by several leaders in recent weeks.
“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,” he said.
The elders said they were working with their counterparts and other leaders from communities across the region to sensitise residents on the need to maintain peace and unity.
Kaguru said they were confident the government would provide an environment in which Kenyans could exercise their political rights freely.
At the same time, the Uasin Gishu County Assembly has urged the NCIC to take firm action against political leaders propagating hate and incitement, which MCAs said could fuel animosity ahead of next year’s elections.
Speaker Phillip Muigei and MCAs criticised recent remarks by Wainaina, which have sparked anger among leaders and residents in the region.
“We have had leaders making utterances which are likely to destabilise our nation. We are asking all leaders to desist from such behaviour, especially as we move to the elections period,” Muigei said.
He called for peaceful campaigns, saying Kenyans had one country to safeguard.
The leaders spoke as the NCIC summoned Wainaina to appear before the commission 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 10am 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.
The NCIC said the summons was issued under provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act dealing with, among other issues, hate speech and conduct likely to undermine national cohesion.
The commission said Wainaina was required to appear in person to assist investigators.
“Pursuant thereto, you are hereby summoned to appear before the commission situated at Britam Towers, Upper Hill, on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 10am so as to assist the commission with the ongoing investigations,” the notice reads.
NCIC chief executive Daniel Mutegi 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.
Muigei said leaders who spew 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 again,” he said.
He urged residents to continue with their businesses without fear, saying those who thrive on hatred would not be entertained.
Deputy Speaker Sarah Malel, who was also present, asked leaders to campaign peacefully and seek votes without incitement or threats.
Community leaders led by Benjamin Leting and human rights crusader Kimutai Kirui also asked politicians to stop turning President William Ruto’s re-election campaign into a tribal issue.
Leting called on UDA to recall Wainaina, saying he was unfit to be a leader because of the remarks.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The joint response by elders, MCAs and community leaders shows a strong desire to prevent tribal rhetoric from reopening old wounds associated with the 2007-08 violence. The NCIC’s summons to Wainaina adds institutional weight, signalling that hate speech and incitement are increasingly attracting scrutiny as political temperatures rise.
