NCIC can't call inciters to account because the system shields them

National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia flanked by members of the board addresses journalists on May 27, 2024. [File, Standard]

In Kenya's toxic political climate, where headlines often echo more outrage than facts, one institution has consistently taken the blows: the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC). Branded dismissively by critics as the "Hate Speech Commission" and the executive's lapdog, NCIC has been unfairly reduced to a watchdog for words-when in reality, it is the lifeline for national unity, the silent architect of peace, and the custodian of cohesion in a nation grappling with identity-based politics.

Let us be clear. NCIC was not created to carry out headline arrests. It was forged in the aftermath of bloodshed-the 2007/08 post-election violence-with a clear mandate: to promote peaceful coexistence between Kenyans of diverse backgrounds. It was created to unite a divided country by ending discrimination on the basis of tribe, race, and religion. Since then, its efforts have stretched far beyond courtrooms and media soundbites.