NCIC summons Homa Bay Town MP Kaluma over alleged hate speech

• The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma for alleged hate speech.
• Kaluma is accused of making statements on August 15 calling for the targeting of political opponents and those advocating a single presidential term for William Ruto.
• The summons, issued under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, requires Kaluma to appear on August 19 to assist with investigations.
• Failure to comply could result in an arrest warrant and potential criminal or contempt proceedings.
• The action follows public demands for investigation, including from Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, and occurs amidst recent political violence in Homa Bay.

Lawyers advising political clients or public figures must be acutely aware of the NCIC's active enforcement posture, as demonstrated by this action, and the serious legal ramifications, including potential criminal proceedings, that can arise from public remarks deemed to violate these statutes.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has issued a summons to Peter Kaluma, the Member of Parliament for Homa Bay Town, following allegations of hate speech and incitement. The action stems from remarks Kaluma reportedly made during a political gathering in Homa Bay on August 15, which prompted calls for authorities to investigate the legislator.

Kaluma has been directed to appear before the commission at its offices located in Britam Towers, Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 am. His presence is required to assist with the ongoing **Peter Kaluma hate speech investigation** into the specific statements attributed to him. The NCIC explicitly warned that failure to comply with the summons could lead to a warrant for Kaluma's arrest, his forced production before the commission, and potential criminal or contempt proceedings.

The commission quoted several alleged remarks made by Kaluma, which, when translated, included a call to "deal with" anyone advocating a single presidential term for President William Ruto, stating, "This is an ODM stronghold and we insist that Ruto is two-term. If anyone speaks of one-term deal with them." Furthermore, Kaluma is alleged to have called for the targeting of individuals perceived as supporting the political opposition, with statements like, "Anyone that says one term deal with them. Anyone that has worked with the other side, even if they were a driver and they feel they cannot walk with us, must now disappear." The summons also cited allegations that Kaluma advocated for the inspection of hotels and houses in Homa Bay to identify and "deal with" people associated with the opposing political side, threatening consequences for hotel owners who did not cooperate, stating, "We are going to inspect all hotels and houses where they had booked, anyone who owns a hotel in Homa Bay must tell us all the guest they have, we must deal with those people and we might deal with the hotel too."

The **NCIC summons Homa Bay MP Kaluma** is firmly grounded in the **National Cohesion and Integration Act Kenya**, specifically citing Sections 27, 29, and 63C, read in conjunction with Section 63E. These provisions grant the National Cohesion and Integration Commission significant **NCIC enforcement powers summons** to investigate and take decisive action against conduct that threatens national unity, including instances of hate speech and incitement.

The commission's mandate, as outlined by its constitutional and statutory framework, is to foster peaceful coexistence among diverse communities and actively combat negative ethnicity, racism, religious intolerance, and hate speech. This **Peter Kaluma hate speech investigation** underscores the NCIC's commitment to upholding the **incitement public statements law**, particularly when such remarks originate from public figures whose words carry substantial weight.

Lawyers advising political clients or public figures must be acutely aware of the NCIC's active enforcement posture, as demonstrated by this action, and the serious legal ramifications, including potential criminal proceedings, that can arise from public remarks deemed to violate these statutes.

The NCIC's decision to issue the summons followed public pressure, notably from Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina. Speaking at a church service at PCEA Rev. Samuel Marima Memorial Church in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, Maina publicly challenged the NCIC, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to launch an investigation into Kaluma's remarks.

Maina accused the Homa Bay Town MP of making inflammatory statements targeting individuals who do not support the government. She quoted Kaluma as saying, "Peter Kaluma said that anyone who does not support the government should be dealt with. He said they would look for such people even in hotels and in their homes, and deal with them." The Woman Representative also criticized state agencies for what she perceived as selective application of the law against political leaders, demanding that Kaluma face the same rigorous scrutiny as other politicians accused of similar inflammatory remarks. She directly appealed to NCIC chairman Bishop Kepha Omae to take decisive action, asserting that Kaluma should have already been apprehended by the DCI and brought before a court to answer for the charges.

This high-profile summons also unfolds against a backdrop of recent violent clashes in Homa Bay, which occurred during and after a "Linda Mwananchi" political rally attended by opposition leaders. Police reported that one officer died while being transported to a hospital in Kisumu after sustaining injuries during the violence, highlighting the volatile environment surrounding political discourse.

Lawyers advising public figures or political clients must be aware of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission's active enforcement of hate speech laws, including its power to summon and issue warrants under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, and the potential for criminal proceedings based on public remarks.

Source: Original reporting via Capital News