Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come under intense criticism over remarks he made during a community empowerment event in Lafey Constituency, Mandera County, with political leaders accusing him of making statements that risk undermining national unity.
The remarks, delivered during an event hosted by Lafey MP Abdikheir Mohammed last Tuesday, have sparked widespread debate after a video of the speech circulated widely on social media.
Speaking in his local dialect, Duale praised the Kenya Kwanza administration for what he described as restoring the dignity of the Somali community before making remarks directed at the Kikuyu community that have since attracted sharp criticism.
In the viral clip, the Health CS alleged that some communities believe no other community should prosper in Kenya.
“They have said that nobody else will live well in Kenya except them,” Duale said.
He went on to add:
“They have said Kenya is ours and nobody else will live in Kenya, even the likes of Moses Wetang’ula.”
Earlier in his address, Duale commended President William Ruto, describing him as the first Head of State since independence to fully integrate the Somali community into the country’s social and political fabric.
He cited the abolition of the extra vetting process previously required for residents of the North Eastern region seeking national identity cards as one of the administration’s major achievements. He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Isiolo-Mandera Road, Garissa Airport, Garissa Bridge and the construction of madrassas.
“President William Ruto stood in Wajir and declared that Muslim and Somali youths would be treated the same as every other Kenyan. This man has restored our dignity. He is constructing the road from Isiolo to Mandera, he has built Garissa Airport and Garissa Bridge, and he has supported the construction of madrassas,” Duale said.
However, it was his remarks concerning another Kenyan community that overshadowed the rest of his speech and triggered condemnation from leaders across the political divide.
Senate condemns remarks
The matter was raised in the Senate on Thursday, where lawmakers described the comments as unfortunate and inconsistent with the responsibility of senior public officials to promote national cohesion.
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji said leaders must exercise restraint in their public utterances.
“It is true we want a peaceful and united country and it is wrong for any leader to stand on any podium and discriminate against any one community in this country. If leaders make such utterances which are emotive, they will definitely bring disharmony in the country. It was wrong for him,” Haji said.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina also criticised the remarks, saying leaders entrusted with public office have a duty to unite rather than divide Kenyans.
“I listened to my very good friend, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon Aden Duale, making a comparison between two communities, creating one community as more superior than the others. Such comments will drag this country back to the trenches,” Olekina said.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua warned that Kenya should not return to the ethnic tensions that preceded the 2007/08 post-election violence.
“As leaders in this country, we are heading onto very dangerous ground. The elections are only a year or so away, and the utterances of leaders regarding coexistence among communities are alarming,” Wambua said.
Recalling the events leading up to the 2007 General Election, Wambua cautioned against inflammatory political rhetoric.
“We were in this country in 2007 when people were calling each other frogs and all manner of names. We all know what followed. We must tell Duale they are citizens of this country with every right to live here and coexist peacefully with every other Kenyan.”
He added that every leader bears a responsibility to safeguard peace and national unity.
“All of us, including the Speaker, myself and every leader in this country, have a duty of care to preach peace and coexistence. If we allow this country to burn because of reckless rhetoric, there will be no other Kenya for any of us.”
Calls for national unity
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Falhada Iman also issued a strongly worded statement condemning the remarks, describing them as unfortunate, divisive and inconsistent with the Constitution.
“Kenya is a nation built on the principles of equality, dignity, inclusivity and respect for every citizen. No tribe or community should ever be demeaned, stereotyped or subjected to derogatory labels. Every Kenyan, regardless of ethnicity, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” she said.
Iman said leaders carry a greater responsibility to foster unity and national cohesion, particularly at a time when the country requires healing and constructive dialogue.
“Public statements should inspire confidence, strengthen our shared identity and reinforce the constitutional principle that all Kenyans are equal before the law.”
She further urged leaders across the political divide to reject rhetoric capable of inflaming ethnic tensions.
“Let us reject tribalism in all its forms and instead embrace the spirit of unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Kenya belongs to all of us. No individual or community is superior to another, and no one should be subjected to insults or demeaning language because of their ethnic background. We are one nation, united by one Constitution and one shared destiny.”
The controversy has reignited debate over the responsibility of public officials to exercise caution in their public statements and uphold the constitutional values of equality, inclusivity and national cohesion, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election.
