National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has issued a summons to artist Millicent Jerotich Kipkorir over alleged hate speech in her song “Arap Ruto,” citing concerns that the lyrics could incite ethnic hostility.
In a formal notice, the NCIC stated that the lyrics in question are “likely to incite feelings of ethnic contempt, hatred, hostility and affect harmonious coexistence between different ethnic communities in Kenya.” The commission’s mandate, established under the National Cohesion and Integration Act of 2008, aims to promote national unity by curbing divisive rhetoric.
Kipkorir has been ordered to appear before the commission on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM at NCIC offices in Britam Towers, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Failure to do so, the commission warned, would constitute an offence under Section 63(c) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
The NCIC has previously cracked down on political figures, influencers, and musicians accused of inciting ethnic tensions. This latest action underscores the government’s heightened vigilance in regulating public discourse amid concerns over growing ethnic divisions.
Harrison Kariuki, Acting Commission Secretary and CEO of NCIC, signed the summons, emphasizing that the commission is committed to “guarding against negative ethnicity, racism, and religious intolerance.” The commission asserts that strict enforcement of these laws is necessary to uphold peace and national unity.
