Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale's loose tongue has once again landed him in hot soup, sparking widespread criticism from leaders across the political spectrum who have accused him of sowing seeds of division.
In a video that has circulated heavily online, the CS pits the Somali community against Central Kenya while heaping praise on President William Ruto and his development record in the Northern region.
Speaking in his local dialect, Mr Duale told his audience that former presidents from the Mount Kenya region had offered them little compared to the current administration.
He implied that President Ruto’s tenure has been far more favourable than those of founding President Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Duale emphasised the global footprint of the ethnic Somali population, estimating it at 41 million worldwide, while arguing that other major communities have historically dominated national politics to the exclusion of marginalized groups.
He called for greater political inclusion, claiming that previous political alliances had sidelined various regions, including Western and Nyanza.
On Friday, he told the Nation that what he was quoted saying was about a Somali proverb on an animal character.
His remarks have caused an uproar on social media and among leaders who believe the statements were inflammatory.
On Friday, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) confirmed it is investigating alleged remarks made by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The commission says its investigations team is conducting an impartial inquiry and has encouraged members of the public to continue reporting cases of divisive political rhetoric and ethnic profiling. NCIC has reminded leaders to avoid inflammatory statements, stressing that Kenya belongs to all communities and warning that divisive politics threaten national unity, especially as the country heads toward the 2027 General Election.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale when he appeared before the Senate Health Committee at Bunge Tower on May 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“The Commission will continue to act firmly, decisively, and impartially against any conduct that threatens the national unity and cohesion of this country,” said the statement by the commission’s chairperson Bishop Kepha Omae.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru described Duale's remarks as regrettable, calling them simplistic and dangerous.
“It is both overly simplistic and dangerous to reduce the government's political challenges to tribal prejudice, especially when the very community stood with us so overwhelmingly in the past. Given your stature in politics, such utterances are unacceptable,” Ms Waiguru stated.
The remarks have also found themselves on the floor of the Senate, where senators Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Narok’s Ledama Ole Kina, and Garissa’s Abdul Haji deviated from the main motion to address the sentiments expressed by the CS.
They clashed several times with Speaker Amason Kingi, who reminded them to file a substantive motion if they wished to discuss a public officer of his standing.
"I listened to the Cabinet Secretary comparing communities and creating an impression that one is superior to the other. As leaders, we need to remain diligent. Such comments will drag this country back to the trenches," Senator Ole Kina stated during the session, urging leaders to unite Kenyans and cease making such remarks. He added that combating tribalism would forge a stronger Kenya and help young people develop a robust patriotic fabric.
Senator Wambua also joined the criticism, warning that such remarks could lead the country down the drain, particularly as general elections approach.
“It is incumbent upon us as leaders to remain calm and speak peace. We are heading into dangerous territory, and utterances by leaders regarding coexistence between communities are alarming. We were in this country in 2007 when people started calling others names, and we know what happened after that. We need to put CS Duale on the spot,” Senator Wambua said.
Senator Haji, who hails from the North Eastern region and was supporting a motion on resolving boundary conflicts, joined the other senators before being asked to stand down by the Speaker.
“If leaders make such utterances that are emotive, they will lead us in the wrong direction. If he did make those utterances, and I have listened to the clip, it was wrong,” Senator Haji said.
A number of other politicians have also criticized the CS, asserting that his remarks appear to reflect the broader position of the presidency.
Former MP Kabando wa Kabando claimed Duale was merely acting on behalf of the President, stating: “Duale does not represent the Somali community. He is Ruto's anatomy and spirit, Ruto’s attack dog.”
In response to the backlash, CS Duale defended his remarks, clarifying that his statements delivered in Lafey Constituency on Monday July 20, 2026 were grounded in a traditional Somali oral proverb that had been misinterpreted and exploited for political advantage.
In a statement, Duale explained that he quoted proverb that refers to an animal with an opportunistic or exploitative character in Somali oral tradition.
He emphasised that the figurative meaning of the proverb addresses individuals or groups who have grown accustomed to monopolising resources or privileges, making it difficult for them to accept sharing power.
According to Duale, his point was that Central Kenya had held key government positions, including the presidency or deputy presidency, continuously since independence.
He argued that President William Ruto’s decision to promote inclusivity by allocating critical positions to other communities has faced resistance from those used to dominating government.
Duale further called out what he termed as double standards, pointing to past hostile statements made against the Somali community by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
He noted that Gachagua had previously labeled the North Eastern region as a terror zone, opposed the removal of identity card vetting for Somalis, questioned appointments of Somalis to government positions, and suggested that Somali-owned businesses in Nairobi were proceeds of crime.
Asked whether he would apologize he said, his statement had cleared the air on what he said.
“My words speak for themselves,” said Cs Duale.
