The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has given Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku seven days to respond to corrective measures following its findings on remarks he made in Tharaka-Nithi in July.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a determination issued on Wednesday, October 7, the commission ruled that Ruku’s comments were divisive and unfairly attributed political and development grievances to an ethnic group.

“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,” NCIC stated.

Consequently, NCIC has ordered Ruku to immediately stop repeating or promoting the remarks and any similar statements.

📌 What You Need to Know

It also proposed that he publicly withdraw, in both English and Kiswahili, remarks suggesting that Kikuyu people collectively regard Kenya as their property or are responsible for unequal development and appointments.

The commission said the proposed withdrawal would be subject to wording approved by NCIC as part of a reconciliation process.

Further, the determination directs an audit of ethnic diversity across national public institutions to establish whether they meet constitutional and legal requirements on representation.

The audit will rely on official staffing and appointment records rather than assumptions based on people’s surnames, with institutions given an opportunity to verify the findings before any reports are released.

Ruku is also expected to take part in discussions on verified disparities in public appointments and development and a dialogue on fair representation.

NCIC said Ruku’s position as a Cabinet Secretary gave his remarks greater influence and therefore required a higher level of restraint.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke