Nairobi: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has asserted that he will only comply with a summons from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) if the commission first requires former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to appear over alleged hate speech remarks. The controversy arose after Duale made comments in Somali during a public event in Lafey, Mandera County, which critics perceived as divisive against the Kikuyu community, leading to public outcry and formal complaints to the NCIC.
According to Kenya News Agency, the commission confirmed on Friday that it had initiated investigations into the allegations and is treating the matter with impartiality. Duale, speaking at a wedding in Garissa Town on Sunday, dismissed demands for an apology, asserting that his remarks were misunderstood and that he had not committed any offence. He challenged the NCIC to show consistency by first summoning Gachagua, whom he accused of making ethnically divisive statements.
Duale declared that he would not appear before the NCIC unless Gachagua was also summoned for similar allegations. He accused Gachagua of being a leading promoter of ethnic division in the country, citing several controversial statements allegedly made by Gachagua that have not resulted in legal action. Duale referenced claims made by Gachagua during President William Ruto’s visit to Mandera, where Gachagua reportedly suggested that the President had met with the Al-Shabaab militant group.
Duale further accused Gachagua of alleging that identity cards were issued to Somali nationals from Somalia and of questioning the nationality of a prominent Somali businessman. He also criticized Gachagua for questioning the appointment of Somali community members to senior government positions, particularly in the security sector. According to Duale, Gachagua has consistently advanced ethnic politics by championing his community’s interests while criticizing others for doing the same.
Duale also dismissed comparisons between his political experience and that of Gachagua, claiming he had been in politics longer. He shifted focus to preparations for the 2027 General Election, outlining a political mobilization strategy to garner support for President Ruto across Kenya’s pastoralist counties, aiming to rally at least five million votes for Ruto’s second-term bid.
Duale argued that President Ruto has earned support from the Somali community not due to ethnicity but because of inclusivity in government appointments. He denied allegations that his Lafey speech amounted to ethnic incitement, maintaining his commitment to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
