By Jeremy Omondi
National Cohesion and Integration Commission, NCIC has summoned 10 lawmakers over violence that rocked by-elections in Matungu and Kabuchai constituencies on Thursday 4th March 2021. Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and MPs Gladys Wanga (Homabay), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) Faisal Bader (Msambweni), John Waluke (Sirisia), Ben Washiali (Mumias East), Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Charles Were (Kasipul), Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon) and nominated Senator Millicent Omanga.
The legislators are expected to appear before the commission on Monday for questioning. The commission’s chair Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia said the summons do not just indicate the commission’s intention to investigate and prosecute the lawmakers but also the plan to stop those exhibiting unethical conduct from occupying public office.
“This is my promise to the purveyors of hate. I will ensure that you are in jail and as you wait to go to jail, I will put you out of the leadership of this country,” Kobia said while addressing the media in Nairobi on Saturday morning.
Dr. Kobia criticized the leaders for abandoning their roles and took on the role of a villain once again. Citing an incident caught on camera when former sports cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa slapped an IEBC official, the chairman said the act was an equivalent of insult to Kenya as a whole. “A slap on the face of an election official is a slap on the face of all Kenyans,” he said.
NCIC has since written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC to seek a legal mandate from the Judiciary to invoke chapter six of the constitution on integrity and remove them from their office for breaking the rules spelled out in the Chapter.
Kobia further said the commission has also asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to ensure unethical leaders do not get a certificate of good conduct. He said the commission is hunting for goons who frog-matched a woman while shouting obscenities at Munami polling station in Matungu constituency.
On Friday four MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto were arraigned at the Bungoma law courts after their arrest on Thursday during the Kabuchai parliamentary by-election. The four Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Nelson Koech (Belgut), Wilson Kogo (Chesumei) and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei were arrested for allegedly planning violence but were however released on Ksh. 50,000 cash bail each.