The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned two Members of Parliament over separate public utterances. In a statement on the evening of Tuesday, September 22, the NCIC summoned Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and Turkana South MP John Ariko Naimot following investigations into remarks they made in Bungoma and Turkana counties, respectively. Barasa is required to appear before the commission to explain utterances he made in Sirisia Constituency, Bungoma County, on September 19.“The Commission is investigating public utterances made by Hon. Didmus Wekesa Barasa at Sirisia Constituency, Bungoma County on 19th September, 2026," NCIC's statement read. According to the NCIC, the vocal lawmaker spoke about leaders from the former Western Province who hold senior government positions, including Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, ambassadors and parastatal chairpersons.Barasa, in his remarks, reportedly urged such leaders to use their positions to address what he described as the 'interests of people from the region'.The remarks have attracted scrutiny from the NCIC, which said it was investigating the utterances under various provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.“Pursuant thereto, you are hereby summoned pursuant to sections 13, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, to appear before the Commission,” the summons states.Meanwhile, Naimot has been summoned to appear before the Commission over remarks he allegedly made at Kaputir Location in Kapurir Ward, Turkana South Constituency, on September 2.In the remarks, Naimot allegedly used derogatory language to refer to one community while discussing insecurity, livestock raids and the sharing of benefits from the Lokichar Oil Basin.The NCIC said it was investigating the remarks made during the Kaputir address and summoned Naimot for a cohesion inquiry under the same provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.Both MPs have been summoned to appear before the NCIC on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at Britam Tower, Upper Hill, Nairobi.The commission stated that both MPs would be given an opportunity to respond to the matters under investigation, present evidence and make representations before a determination is made. “At the inquiry you will be afforded an opportunity to respond, adduce evidence and make any representations you wish the Commission to consider,” the Commission reiterated. While the summonses do not amount to a finding of wrongdoing, the notices warn that failure to appear could lead to warrants of arrest and/or criminal or contempt proceedings.
This page contains an attributed headline and the preview text supplied through the publisher’s RSS feed. Copyright in the original reporting belongs to Kenyans.co.ke.
