The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has directed Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Wekesa Barasa to appear before the commission after the sitting MP made comments which it alleges were “inflammatory” and “derogatory” towards public officials belonging to a region other than his own.

The MP was charged on Tuesday, September 22, with making “inflammatory and derogatory speech against public officers who hold senior government positions on the basis of their geographical origin.” This came after the NCIC accused Barasa of speaking “on matters concerning the use of senior government positions to further the interest of persons from a particular region.” During the “inflammatory” speech, Barasa stated that leaders from the former Western Province who occupy the position Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, ambassadors and chairpersons of parastatal organisations are using their positions to favour people from their region.

In the video of the “inflammatory” speech, Barasa asks leaders from the region who occupy a senior position in the government to make Western Kenya a “better place” by using the position to further the people’s interests.

“Ukipatiwa nafasi kubwa kama ni PS, ama wewe ni waziri, kama wewe ni ambassador, kama wewe ni chairman ya parastatal, na wewe unatoka mkoa wa magharibi, wewe jua nafasi hiyo ni ya jamii. Umepewa utumie kuhakikisha maswala na maslahi ya wananchi hawa,” Barasa said.

The MP is accused of making “derogatory” remarks and making an “offensive and insulting analogy” by giving an example of “imaginary conversation” between a recruiting officer and applicants. According to the NCIC, Barasa explained how a person from the Western Kenya would be discriminated against during the recruitment process if the interviewing panel does not favour candidates from their region.

“The speaker concludes that because of this kind of conduct, Western Province has lagged behind other provinces in development,” the NCIC report said.

The NCIC has stated that it is looking into the comments under several provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act. The summons requires the MP to appear before the commission at its offices in Britam Tower, Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Tuesday, September 29, at 10am. The commission said that the inquiry will afford Barasa an opportunity to respond to the allegations, present evidence and make representations before a determination is made.

‘At the inquiry you will be afforded an opportunity to respond, adduce evidence and make any representations you wish the Commission to consider,’ the NCIC said.

The commission has also warned that failure to appear in person could lead to warrants of arrest and possible criminal or contempt proceedings. The summons does not constitute a finding that Barasa committed an offence. It forms part of an ongoing inquiry, with the MP expected to respond to the allegations before the NCIC makes a determination. Barasa’s summons came alongside that of Turkana South MP John Ariko Namoit, who was separately called before the NCIC over remarks allegedly made in Turkana South on September 2 concerning relations between the Turkana and Pokot communities, livestock raids and the sharing of benefits from the Lokichar Oil Basin.