The Kenyan Senate has directed the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to immediately cancel the contracts of 22 newly hired staff due to irregularities in the recruitment process. The positions were not advertised, violating legal requirements. This order came after officials provided inconsistent explanations during a committee session.
On Monday, November 17, 2025, the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration issued a directive to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to cancel the contracts of 22 recently hired staff. The committee identified serious irregularities in the recruitment, noting that the positions had never been advertised, which constitutes a violation of the law.
During a tense session, NCIC officials faced rigorous questioning over inconsistencies in their accounts. The commission had initially planned to hire 20 people but ended up recruiting 22, with the CEO and the Human Resources department offering varying explanations. Committee chair Senator Catherine Mumma described the hiring as unlawful and contrary to legal standards, emphasizing that any deviation from the original plan required documented resolutions.
Senator Mumma warned the NCIC CEO against yielding to external pressures, stating he could face personal liability if found culpable. The committee further summoned NCIC commissioners to appear on Tuesday to clarify how the irregular recruitment occurred and address the contradictory statements.
The recruitment controversy dominated the proceedings, overshadowing discussions on efforts to combat inflammatory remarks by political figures. Both NCIC and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) were pressed on actions against hate speech, particularly from influential leaders at rallies and in churches. KNCHR CEO Bernard Mogesa struggled to show tangible repercussions but insisted that both politicians and ordinary citizens were under scrutiny.
Lamu Senator Kamau Gituku sought details on monitoring and deterring hate speech spread. NCIC reported enhanced investigations, increased summons for offenders, and greater surveillance of social media and public gatherings since the 2022 General Election.