‘Stop immediately’: NCIC gives Ruku seven days after explosive ethnic remarks
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has been ordered to stop repeating remarks that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) says amounted to divisive ethnic generalisation and collective blame.
The commission issued the directive after finding that remarks made by Ruku during a political address at Kiang’ondu in Tharaka Nithi County in July crossed the boundary between legitimate advocacy for regional identity and development and statements that could undermine relations between ethnic communities.
In Determination No. 4 of 2026, dated Wednesday, October 7, NCIC said Ruku’s position as a Cabinet Secretary increased the responsibility attached to his public statements.
“The Commission finds that Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku’s remarks at Kiang’ondu, Tharaka Nithi County, in July 2026 crossed from legitimate advocacy for identity and equitable development into divisive ethnic generalisation and collective blame,” the commission stated.
NCIC said the remarks undermined equal dignity and harmonious relations and fell below the level of restraint it expected from a senior public official.
The commission has consequently directed Ruku, with immediate effect, to stop repeating, publishing, endorsing or encouraging the collective ethnic allegations identified in the determination or substantially similar generalisations.
Ruku given seven days to respond
Ruku has been given seven days from the date of the determination to state whether he accepts the proposed conciliation terms or wishes to suggest amendments.
Among the measures proposed by NCIC is a public withdrawal, in both English and Kiswahili, of allegations that Kikuyu people regard Kenya as their property or are collectively responsible for disparities in development and public appointments.
The wording of the proposed withdrawal is to be issued jointly with, or approved by, the commission.
Ruku has also been directed to affirm the principles of equal citizenship and dignity and the freedom of Kenyans to make political choices, while recognising the right of communities to maintain their distinct identities.
The case follows Ruku’s appearance before NCIC on September 1, when he attended the commission with his lawyer and defended remarks that had prompted the investigation.
What Ruku said at the centre of the inquiry
The commission’s inquiry examined statements Ruku made while discussing the political and regional position of Mt Kenya East.
NCIC said he rejected the description of Mt Kenya East as a political “trailer” of the Kikuyu community and made broader claims concerning the relationship between Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West.
The commission also examined remarks in which Ruku alleged that people in Mt Kenya West believed Kenya belonged to them and referred to ethnic surnames while discussing development and government appointments.
Another part of the speech involved repeated imagery about stepping on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s neck until he had no room to “breathe”.
Ruku subsequently admitted making the remarks during his appearance before NCIC, while maintaining that his comments had been misunderstood or were political expressions rather than attacks motivated by hostility towards a particular community.
NCIC says remarks amounted to collective blame
After reviewing the recording, transcript, Ruku’s explanation and the legal submissions made on his behalf, NCIC concluded that portions of the speech amounted to collective ethnic blame.
The commission said references to the Kikuyu community, combined with allegations concerning ownership of Kenya and the use of ethnic surnames in discussions about appointments, moved the debate beyond criticism of institutions or unequal development.
According to NCIC, the comments instead attributed responsibility collectively to an ethnic community.
The commission said this undermined the equal standing of Kikuyu people and had implications for harmonious relations and the protection of their rights and reputation.
The finding forms the basis of the cessation notice issued against the Cabinet Secretary.
Ruku argued his remarks were protected political advocacy
During the proceedings, Ruku maintained that the Constitution protects communities’ distinct identities and permits political advocacy around regional development and public appointments.
He pointed to what he described as disparities between Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West and denied that his comments were motivated by ill will towards Kikuyu people.
Ruku also argued that his references to stepping on Gachagua’s neck were figurative political language intended to describe political defeat.
NCIC accepted that the imagery was figurative in the circumstances examined by the commission.
However, it said the repeated use of such imagery nevertheless called for greater restraint from a public leader.
Cabinet Secretary’s office carries greater responsibility
A central issue in the determination was Ruku’s position within government.
NCIC noted that Cabinet Secretaries are excluded from a particular political-neutrality restriction under Section 25 of the Conflict of Interest Act.
However, the commission said that provision does not remove their obligations under the Constitution or the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
It therefore held that Ruku remained subject to legal obligations concerning national cohesion, equality and respect for the rights and reputation of other communities.
The determination comes as NCIC steps up scrutiny of political rhetoric ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election. The commission has recently warned politicians against language that could inflame ethnic tensions and said it would take action where statements breach cohesion and hate-speech laws.
NCIC draws line between identity politics and collective blame
Despite its adverse finding against Ruku, the commission stressed that it was not prohibiting political leaders from representing or advocating for their communities.
NCIC said the Constitution protects ethnic, cultural and regional identities and that Ruku was entitled to identify as Mbeere, distinguish between communities and raise concerns about development and public appointments.
The commission’s position was that such advocacy must not become collective blame against another ethnic community.
It further said claims concerning ethnic representation in public appointments should be supported by evidence rather than assumptions based on surnames.
Ethnic diversity audit ordered across public establishments
The determination also opens the door to a wider examination of ethnic representation in Kenya’s public service.
NCIC said it would assess individual public establishments to establish whether they comply with statutory requirements concerning ethnic diversity.
Section 7 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act requires public establishments to seek to reflect Kenya’s diversity and provides that no more than one-third of staff should come from a single ethnic community.
Article 232 of the Constitution similarly provides for adequate and equal opportunities for members of all ethnic groups in the public service.
NCIC stressed, however, that its determination did not establish that any particular public institution had breached those requirements.
Instead, the commission said verified staffing and appointment records would be necessary before conclusions could be reached.
NCIC plans to issue data requests within seven days. Ruku is expected to facilitate lawful access to records within his portfolio and identify custodians of relevant records held elsewhere.
The institutions concerned will then have an opportunity to verify the information and respond before any adverse institutional findings are made public.
NCIC said any eventual public reporting would rely on aggregate information while protecting personal data.
Ruku’s reconciliation efforts recognised
The commission also acknowledged steps Ruku has taken towards reconciliation since the remarks that triggered the investigation.
Among them was his symbolic surrender of an “axe” to Mt Kenya elders on September 19, followed by the acceptance of a flywhisk and a call for him to champion reconciliation. The move marked a shift from his earlier campaign advocating a political separation of Mt Kenya East and West.
NCIC described the subsequent peace initiatives as genuine and substantial first steps towards reconciliation.
However, the commission said those efforts did not erase its adverse findings or complete the corrective process.
Ruku has now been directed to develop his proposed peace caravan in partnership with NCIC as a non-partisan initiative involving communities from Mt Kenya East and West.
The commission said the initiative must not be tied to support for any political candidate, government or regional political spokesperson.
Further peacebuilding measures proposed
NCIC has also proposed that Ruku organise and finance a restorative peacebuilding and social-cohesion activity at reasonable personal cost.
The commission will approve the programme, participants, messaging, venue and date before it proceeds.
NCIC said Ruku’s reconciliation activities already undertaken would be taken into account when establishing the remaining implementation timetable, avoiding unnecessary duplication.
An agreed timetable will subsequently be recorded and placed under the commission’s supervision.
The determination leaves Ruku facing both an immediate restriction on repeating the remarks and a broader reconciliation process, while NCIC prepares to examine ethnic representation across public institutions.
The case also highlights the increasingly sensitive political debate around regional identity, public appointments and ethnic representation as Kenya moves towards the 2027 General Election.
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