The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), has censured former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for comments deemed inflammatory and hinting at potential violence in the 2027 elections.
Commission Chairman Reverend Samuel Kobia said Gachagua's comparison of the 2007 post-election violence to a "Christmas party" was appalling and deeply insensitive. "To refer to the 2007/2008 post-election violence as a 'Christmas party' is appalling and there is absolutely nothing festive about death, displacement and the trauma thousands of Kenyans still live with today," Kobia said in a statement.
He added: "Such trivialisation shows a stark insensitivity to victims' memories and the remarkable resilience of survivors.
We must never forget the over 1,000 lives lost and the widespread devastation of that period." Gachagua, had during a recent live interview, suggested that if the upcoming elections were rigged, the resulting chaos would make the 2007 violence look like a "Christmas party." However, Gachagua, who recently launched the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has denied advocating violence.
