National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to reinvent itself and regain public confidence, saying its work should not be confined to election seasons.
He said the commission was created to heal divisions exposed by the 2007/08 post-election violence but has struggled to convince Kenyans that it is effectively delivering on that mandate.
"NCIC suffers from serious trust issues. It was established to bridge political divisions and should not only become visible when the country is heading to an election," Mr Wetang'ula said.
The speaker was addressing NCIC commissioners led by chairman Bishop Kepha Omae at Parliament Buildings. Mr Wetang'ula said the commission should invest more in civic education, arguing that changing attitudes is the surest way of building lasting national cohesion.
"The education process to change our mindset is far more important," he said.
He noted that ethnic diversity was not Kenya's problem, but rather the way politicians manipulate ethnic identities to divide communities for political gain.
"There is nothing wrong with belonging to a particular ethnic community. The problem comes when that identity is used to oppress and disadvantage others," he said.
The Speaker challenged NCIC to work more closely with the Ministry of Education to promote national unity among young people, saying future generations hold the key to changing the country's political culture.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the commission and institutions including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Judiciary and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
While NCIC has investigative powers, he noted, successful prosecution depends on cooperation with other agencies.
"You have the power to investigate, but prosecution rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions. NCIC needs to carve out its niche, clean its own house and earn the respect of Kenyans. Parliament will support the commission within the law," he said.
Mr Wetang'ula reminded the commission that elections are a continuous process rather than a single-day event and urged it to remain vigilant against hate speech and political incitement throughout the electoral cycle.
"Elections are not just about casting a vote; they are a process, and NCIC has a critical role in helping police communities against hate speech and leaders who sow disharmony," he said.
NCIC chairman Bishop Kepha Omae said the commission had already begun preparing for the 2027 General Election through a roadmap focused on prevention, dialogue and partnerships.
"We have a roadmap. We are seeking collaborations with other agencies and all political players in the country. We seek to end polarisation and ethnicity," he said.
Mr Omae said the commission would intensify engagement with political leaders, religious organisations, elders, schools and other learning institutions to encourage responsible leadership and peaceful politics.
"We clearly ask our leaders to tone down. We call for sanity and healthy politics," he said.
NCIC commissioner Jerusha Mwaathime appealed to Parliament to strengthen the commission's investigative mandate, saying it requires broader powers to deal effectively with cases that fuel ethnic tension and division.
"We need stronger criminal remedies to address some incidents during investigations. The commission's powers need to be expanded to allow more comprehensive investigations," she said
