NCIC summons MP Farah Maalim over alleged remarks about Gen Z protesters

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Daadab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim over his alleged remarks about the Gen Z-led demonstrations against the Finance Bill, 2024.

Farah is expected to appear before the commission on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 11 am at its offices in Nairobi following the summons issued under Section 27 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act No 12 of 2008.

The NCIC is investigating whether his utterances in the Somali language incited feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence, or discrimination, thereby threatening harmonious coexistence between different political groups in Kenya. Such actions, if proven, violate Section 13 (1) (a) of the NCI Act.

Farah, who is required to help with the ongoing investigations, will have committed an office as per Section 63 (c) and Section 63 (e) of the NCI Act if he fails to appear before the NCIC in person at the specified time and place.

The controversy stemmed from an undated video, now widely circulated, in which he appears to issue inflammatory remarks about the young protesters, prompting a demand for his arrest and prosecution.

Farah distanced himself from the video, claiming a recording of a book launch in Somalia had been manipulated.

“It’s all editing, cutting, and pasting, and putting words together. It's basically a lot of nonsense,” he said, suggesting it was motivated by political reasons within Somalia, not Kenya.

During an appearance on KTN News on Tuesday morning, the MP reiterated that the video did not accurately represent his speech's substance and that his comments were taken out of context.