The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned nominated MP Joseph Wainaina Iraya to appear before it for questioning over remarks he made during a public address in Uasin Gishu County over the weekend.
Mr Wainaina has been a vocal supporter of President William Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
In a summon dated August 31, the commission directed Mr Wainaina to appear at its offices on Thursday, September 17, at 10am to assist with ongoing investigations into remarks he made while addressing residents in Ngeria, Kapseret.
The NCIC said it was investigating remarks allegedly made by the MP during a public address on August 29, in which he appeared to target people in the region who oppose President Ruto and his UDA party.
The commission cited remarks in which Mr Wainaina allegedly told political opponents to leave the area.
He also allegedly called on supporters to identify people opposed to Mr Ruto and his party, while questioning whether some individuals could be trusted because of their political affiliations.
The remarks have triggered condemnation, with the NCIC now probing whether they violated provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
The commission derives its mandate from the Act and is tasked with promoting national unity and harmonious relations, including combating negative ethnicity, racism, religious intolerance and hate speech.
The summons were issued pursuant to sections 27, 29 and 63C, read together with Section 63E of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
Mr Wainaina has been warned that failure to appear in person on the appointed date and time could result in a warrant of arrest being issued for his arrest and production before the commission.
NCIC Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Dr Daniel Mutegi Giti warned that failure to comply could lead to criminal and/or contempt proceedings.
Earlier on Tuesday, Uasin Gishu MCAs led by Speaker Philip Muigei and Deputy Speaker Sarah Malel condemned Mr Wainaina's remarks, warning that they risked reopening ethnic wounds in a region scarred by post-election violence.
The MCAs said the right to live, work, own property and vote in Uasin Gishu could not be tied to political allegiance or identity.
Speaker Muigei said politicians should not use elections to threaten or profile people, warning that such rhetoric could undo years of efforts to promote peaceful coexistence in the county.
He called on security agencies to act against leaders whose utterances could inflame tensions as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Mr Malel said the remarks were particularly worrying because of the potential consequences for women and children should political rhetoric degenerate into violence.
“As a woman leader, we are equally perturbed by the utterances not only for concerns but also for the safety of women and children. When clashes occur, women and children are extremely affected. I condemn the utterances with the strongest term possible,” she said.
The county assembly leadership maintained that Uasin Gishu belonged to all Kenyans regardless of their background or political affiliation, urging leaders to promote unity rather than use identity as a political bargaining tool.
The MCAs also warned against dragging communities into political contests, saying Kenyans should be free to support candidates and parties of their choice without fear of intimidation, eviction or reprisal.
Their intervention came as concern mounted over the possible impact of inflammatory political rhetoric in a county that has previously experienced deadly election-related clashes.
The leaders urged residents not to respond to provocative statements and called for political differences to be settled through democratic processes rather than threats or exclusion.
The backlash has since widened, with political leaders and residents demanding action against the nominated MP over what they described as threatening and divisive rhetoric ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Moitalel Ole Kenta called for investigations into Mr Wainaina's remarks, saying such language could undermine peaceful coexistence and revive painful memories of the 2007/08 post-election violence.
“This is the exact language of exclusion that has, in the past, preceded some of the darkest chapters in our nation's history,” Jubilee said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also criticised the remarks, warning against attempts to intimidate or exclude voters because of their political choices.
“You cannot threaten people in the name of elections. Telling people to leave Eldoret is a dangerous route,” Ms Wamuchomba said.
The remarks have also unsettled residents in parts of Eldoret, with local leaders and residents in Huruma, Langas and Munyaka calling on President William Ruto to publicly distance himself from the MP's statements.
They have further urged security agencies to act without fear or favour, saying political differences should not be allowed to threaten the safety or right of any resident to live and vote in the region.
The controversy comes as political activity begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election, raising fresh concerns over the use of identity and political allegiance in campaigns.
The NCIC investigation will determine whether the MP's remarks amounted to an offence under the law governing hate speech, ethnic hostility and other conduct capable of undermining peaceful relations.
