Why NCIC Now Wants 10 Counties in Kenya Renamed.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has disclosed that it will advocate for the tabling of a motion in Parliament to rename counties that are identified by specific ethnic groups.

In a press briefing on Monday, May 27, in Nairobi, NCIC chairman Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia stated that this was meant to eliminate potential discrimination against residents from these counties along ethnic lines.

The counties include Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nandi, Kisii, Turkana, Embu, Samburu, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet.

“In the implementation of the recommendations of our Ethnic and Diversity Audit 2023 for County Public Service, NCIC shall advocate for tabling of a motion in parliament for renaming counties that are identified by specific ethnic groups to eliminate potential discrimination along ethnic lines.

“These include Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Nandi, Kisii, Turkana, Embu, Samburu, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties,” Dr. Kobia remarked.NCIC was giving a press briefing on the state of peace and cohesion in the nation.

According to the commission, cases of hate speech have significantly reduced due to what it termed as continuous engagement with the public on the need to mitigate hate speech and ethnic contempt.

However, Dr. Kobia said that the commission had received 67 cases of hate speech.

“The Commission has continued to monitor hate speech cases both on social media and other public platforms. We are happy to report that the cases have gone down significantly.

“However, the Commission received 67 cases out of which 43 are under various stages of investigations, 2 are before court, 13 have been concluded and 13 others conciliated as provisions of the NCI Act 2008,” Dr. Kobia remarked.

He further reported that the NCIC identified 44 cases of discrimination, 24 cases of incitement, 6 cases of hate speech, 93 cases of misinformation, and 68 cases of disinformation on social media.