MPs censure Gachagua, chide 'moribund' NCIC
Politics
By
Josphat Thiong'o
| Feb 27, 2026
Former Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua during an interview in his office in Nairobi on February 26, 2026. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]
The National Assembly on Thursday censured former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his inflammatory remarks aimed at Nyaribare Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda.
Lawmakers also condemned the National Cohesion and Integration Committee (NCIC) over its laxity in prosecuting leaders behind toxic utterances. They have now called on the summoning of Gachagua by the commission to explain his remarks.
The former DP found himself the subject of debate after Migori Woman Rep Fatuma Zainab rose to make a general statement on the alleged ethnic profiling of Jhanda.
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“Ethnic profiling reduces citizens to stereotypes rather than recognising them as Kenyans. Article 27 guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination. Any attempt to weaponized ethnicity for political relevance is an affront to Constitutionalism and an insult to the intelligence of Kenyan people,” she added.
On Tuesday, during a roadside rally in Keroka town, Gachagua mocked voters for electing Jhanda, derisively calling him “muhindi” and questioning his legitimacy due to Asian descent.
He urged residents to unite behind Dr Fred Matiang’i and reject leaders who insult him, framing the comments around ethnic solidarity.
Yesterday, the Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo raised a red flag over the surging levels of political intolerance and called on NCIC to act.
“It is completely worrying that every day I listen to people in rallies and funerals, the level of toxic utterances is increasing and if we go with this trajectory we might not get to the elections. The NCIC must now spring to action and make sure we tone down intolerance, violence and ethnic profiling,” he said.
Leader of the Majority Kimani Ichung’wah claimed that his utterances were a proof that the opposition had no agenda for the country.
“He (Gachagua) is an enemy to every Kenyan. NCIC must now take its mandate seriously and ensure that Gachagua is brought to book over his utterances.”
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula called for a disbandment of the NCIC, noting that it had negated its mandate.
“If NCIC is not working, disband it and let us constitute another commission, one that is spending public resources to superintend and protect our diversity as a country. The NCIC as currently constituted is not serving the purpose for which it was created,” he said.
Nyeri Town MP Dancun Mathenge, while calling on Kenyans not to normalize insults and provocation, termed the words directed towards MP Jhanda as despicable and uncouth stating that they should not come from anyone who has been a leader in this country or anyone who aspires to be a leader in future.
Tharaka MP George Murugara also chimed in with a swipe at the opposition.
“It is despicable and we must frown on the utterances by the former Deputy President. It does appear that there is apolitical dispensation that is geared towards dividing the country along tribal lines. I am also calling on the NCIC to indict Gachagua and other leaders such former CS Mithika Linturi who was recently in Meru engaging in ethnic balkanisation which brings hatred and division in our country,” observed Murugara.
He also called on leaders to seek office with decorum and within the confines of the law.
“The term of the current commissioners has ended and new commissioners are due for vetting. It is incumbent on this House that we conduct a thorough vetting. The Commission takes up almost 800 million every year doing almost nothing,”added Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo.