NCIC summons Governor Joseph Ole Lenku over claims of ethnic remarks

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku to testify over allegations of ethnic remarks he made during a political event in Kajiado West. The Commission issued a summons on September 1, 2026, directing the governor to appear before them at Britam Towers in Nairobi on September 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. to cooperate with ongoing investigations.

The NCIC is probing statements attributed to Lenku, in which he cautioned political parties against nominating non-Maasai candidates for roles considered to be within the Maasai community in Kajiado, Narok and other Maasai regions. The Commission's mandate under the National Cohesion and Integration Act is to foster national unity, peaceful coexistence, and prevent ethnic strife, bigotry, religious intolerance, and hate speech.

The NCIC quoted the governor as saying, "We will urge political parties to refrain from nominating non-Maasai candidates for Maasai positions in Kajiado and Narok, as enough is enough and we believe it's time to move forward." Failure to comply with the summons could result in the issuance of an arrest warrant for the governor, according to the summons issued under Sections 27, 29 and 63C of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

This case unfolds amid intense political climate leading up to the 2027 General Election, where ethnic representation and competition for seats have become focal points of political discourse across various regions of the country.