Activist Demands Action Against Gachagua, Calls Out Senior Security Chiefs Over Alleged Ethnic Profiling

Eldoret-based human rights activist Kipkorir Ngetich has called on the government to take immediate legal action against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over what he described as repeated statements allegedly profiling members of the country's security services along ethnic lines.

Speaking during a press briefing at his office in Eldoret on Tuesday, Ngetich, who spoke on behalf of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, said the former Deputy President's remarks pose a serious threat to national cohesion, security, and the professionalism of Kenya's disciplined forces.

The activist said Kenya's security agencies are national institutions established under the Constitution to serve all citizens impartially, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation, and should never be subjected to political or tribal narratives.

According to Ngetich, repeated public statements targeting security officers from specific communities risk creating suspicion within the disciplined forces and among members of the public. He argued that such utterances could weaken public confidence in the country's security apparatus and interfere with the officers' ability to carry out their constitutional mandate.

He warned that continued ethnic profiling of security personnel could have dangerous consequences if left unchecked, saying the country should never allow political competition to spill over into national security matters.

Ngetich maintained that the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, and other security agencies have, since independence, maintained a high level of discipline, professionalism, and adherence to the rule of law despite political transitions. He said the institutions have remained united because officers serve under the Constitution rather than on the basis of ethnicity.

The activist questioned what he termed as the silence of senior government security officials, including the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Criminal Investigations, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Service, saying Kenyans deserve to know why no action has been taken despite what he described as repeated inflammatory remarks.

He argued that the failure by relevant institutions to respond decisively could send the wrong message that some political leaders are above the law, even when their statements touch on matters of national security.

Ngetich further stated that security officers are deployed across the country based on operational needs and not according to their ethnic backgrounds or places of origin. He warned that attempting to identify officers by their communities could expose them to hostility while serving in different parts of the country.

He claimed that such rhetoric risks polarising the public, creating dangerous stereotypes against law enforcement officers, and undermining trust between citizens and security agencies. According to him, any attempts to categorise officers on ethnic grounds threaten the unity and operational effectiveness of the country's security institutions.

The activist also expressed concern that the alleged remarks could create divisions within the security agencies themselves by encouraging officers to view one another through ethnic lenses instead of as colleagues serving the same national mission.

He urged members of the National Security Council and Parliament's relevant security committees to urgently examine the matter, saying national security should never be politicised.

At the same time, Ngetich appealed to security officers across the country to remain professional, disciplined, and committed to their constitutional duties despite ongoing political debates.

He argued that officers should not allow themselves to be drawn into political disputes or ethnic divisions, noting that their loyalty remains to the Constitution and the people of Kenya.

Ngetich further claimed that the alleged statements violate several Kenyan laws, including provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, the Penal Code, and the National Police Service Act. He argued that the laws prohibit hate speech, ethnic incitement, and conduct likely to promote hostility or undermine discipline within the country's security institutions.

He called on investigative agencies to independently examine the alleged remarks and determine whether any criminal offences had been committed, insisting that accountability should apply equally to all leaders regardless of their political status.

The activist concluded by urging Kenyans to reject tribal politics and embrace national unity, saying the country's diversity should remain a source of strength rather than division.

He also appealed to political leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements, particularly on matters touching on national security, warning that careless rhetoric could have unintended consequences if allowed to persist.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has not publicly responded to the allegations made by Ngetich.