Friday, 7 March, 2025
NCIC Chairperson highlights key initiatives to foster National Cohesion before Senate Committee𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟔 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has been actively engaged in various initiatives to reduce ethnic divisions, promote tolerance and foster social harmony across Kenya, NCIC Chairperson Dr. Samuel Kobia informed the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration.
Appearing before the Committee, chaired by Senator Mohamed Chute (Marsabit), Dr. Kobia detailed the Commission’s efforts in implementing national strategies aimed at enhancing unity and inclusivity.
Dr. Kobia highlighted NCIC’s 2023 audit of county public service, mandated under Section 7 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act. The findings revealed that only 13 out of 47 counties complied with Section 65(e) of the County Governments Act, which requires public institutions to reflect Kenya’s diverse population in their staffing.
He further noted that five counties were ranked as the most diverse, with over 30 communities represented in their public service, while seven counties demonstrated significant improvement in compliance. The report was shared with relevant stakeholders, including the Senate and National Assembly to support oversight efforts in ensuring compliance and promoting diversity in county governments.
The NCIC Chairperson also briefed the Committee on the Commission’s Social Cohesion Index (SCI) study, first conducted in 2014 to assess social cohesion at the start of devolution. Currently, NCIC is working with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) on a second SCI study to evaluate progress.
The study focuses on nine key indicators namely Trust, Peace, Diversity, Equity, Prosperity, Identity, Governance, Technology and Environmental Sustainability. The findings will inform policies aimed at enhancing social harmony and reducing ethnic tensions.
To promote diversity and inclusivity in county employment, NCIC collaborated with the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), National Council of People Living with Disabilities (NCPLWD) and the Council of Governors (CoG) to develop guidelines for County Public Service Employment Equity Plans (CEEP).
Dr. Kobia emphasized that these guidelines, already disseminated to all 47 County Public Service Boards, provide a framework for addressing underrepresentation and ensuring fair employment practices. The initiative aligns with constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.
In its ongoing efforts to cultivate a culture of peace, NCIC engaged over 4,000 students from 15 counties through the National Debate Championship, equipping them with conflict resolution skills and fostering intercommunity dialogue.
Additionally, 14 sensitization forums were held across 11 counties, reaching 6,498 individuals directly. These forums targeted peace actors and community members, reinforcing NCIC’s commitment to peacebuilding, civic education and national values.
Dr. Kobia informed the Committee that NCIC has formed a multi-agency task force to regulate public campaigns and curb hate speech, discrimination and divisive rhetoric. The task force comprises of Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Communications Authority (CA), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and National Police Service (NPS). This collaboration enhances the monitoring, investigation and prosecution of hate speech and discrimination-related offenses.
However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by digital platforms, including the use of pseudo names, bots and artificial intelligence, which complicate investigations. He emphasized that NCIC requires specialized tools to ensure admissibility of digital evidence in court, but the Commission is currently constrained by inadequate resources.
Dr. Kobia underscored that insufficient budgetary allocations remain a significant barrier to NCIC’s effectiveness. Limited resources restrict the Commission’s capacity to reach all regions and effectively respond to emerging cohesion challenges.
He urged for increased funding to expand NCIC’s operational reach, particularly in Strengthening local peace committees, conducting public awareness campaigns and Enhancing early warning systems to prevent conflict escalation.