The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has dismissed demands issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale that he would only appear before the commission if former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is summoned first.
NCIC Chairperson Bishop Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae said the commission would not be drawn into political conditions or allow individuals appearing before it to dictate its procedures.
Speaking during a press briefing, Omae said the commission has a clear mandate under the law and would continue carrying out its duties without fear or favour.
"There is time for politics and there is time for real work," Omae said.
He termed Duale's demands as unacceptable, insisting that
NCIC would not entertain attempts to influence how it conducts investigations.
"We cannot allow such jokes. We will not entertain those games," he said.
"We cannot allow someone to say that when that one appears before the commission, that is when I will go. We will do our job."
Duale has declined to honour summons issued by NCIC over controversial remarks he made during a visit to Mandera County. The Cabinet Secretary maintained that he would only appear before the commission if Gachagua was summoned first over his past comments.
"No Gachagua, no Duale," Duale said, insisting that the commission should apply the law equally to all individuals.
However, Omae said NCIC summons are issued based on established procedures and that failure by individuals to appear does not halt the commission's work.
"We issue summons, and whoever is asked to come, whether they show up or not, there is a procedure of dealing with that. We will take firm action without fear or favour," he said.
The NCIC chairperson said the commission would not object if both Duale and Gachagua appeared before it at the same time, but insisted that the process must follow legal procedures.
"If they come together, that will be fine and okay. We have enough space in our office to accommodate both of them at the same time," he said.
"But we must be procedural and we must adhere to the
law so that both of them get justice. We cannot go outside procedure."
Omae said political statements and public pressure would not interfere with the commission's mandate, adding that NCIC was capable of handling the increasing number of cases before it.
"Political comments by politicians cannot change the way we are supposed to work. We have not been overwhelmed by the cases that are coming up," he said.
The NCIC chairperson further explained that the commission
has powers under the NCIC Act to initiate investigations independently, even in
the absence of a formal complaint.
