Duale: I will not go to NCIC offices before Gachagua does

A simmering political row between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has escalated into an open war of words.

Duale has declared that he will only honour any future summons from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) if the commission also compels Gachagua to appear before it.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Duale in his native Somali language during the Lafey event. The remarks were criticised by some, who interpreted them as divisive and directed at the Kikuyu community.

Duale, however, dismissed the allegations, saying his remarks had been taken out of context and deliberately misrepresented. 

"I have been widely misquoted, and my remarks delivered in Lafey Constituency have been taken out of context to advance false and misleading narratives," he said.

The Cabinet Secretary explained that the phrase at the centre of the controversy—"Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib"—is a well-known Somali proverb that has long been part of the community's oral tradition.

"It is a figurative expression about the difficulty of ending entrenched habits or long-enjoyed advantages. It was never directed at any community or intended to demean anyone," Duale said.

According to the CS, his speech focused on inclusivity and the government's commitment to ensuring that all Kenyans, regardless of their ethnicity or region, have an equal opportunity to serve the country.

"My message was about the importance of embracing inclusivity as the government continues to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of their region or ethnicity, have an opportunity to serve the nation," he said.

Duale accused critics of distorting his remarks for political purposes and criticised what he termed selective condemnation of leaders' statements.

"Attempts to portray my remarks as ethnic incitement are therefore dishonest and a deliberate distortion of what I said," he said.

Following public outcry and complaints lodged with the NCIC, Gachagua intensified his criticism while addressing supporters in Embu, accusing Duale of acting as a political messenger of government.

"Duale does not speak on his own. Such harsh political rhetoric is choreographed," Gachagua claimed.

He further alleged that Duale's remarks reflected a broader political strategy by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The NCIC subsequently announced that it had opened investigations into the remarks.

In a statement issued on Friday, the commission said its Investigations Department had launched an inquiry into the allegations.

"The National Cohesion and Integration Commission acknowledges receipt of a complaint regarding alleged utterances by Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale. Our Investigations Department is conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the said utterances," the commission said.

However, speaking during a wedding ceremony at a hotel in Garissa on Sunday, Duale struck a defiant tone. He accused the former Deputy President of promoting ethnic division while questioning the commission's consistency in enforcing the law.

"I want to tell the NCIC that the day you are going to summon Rigathi Gachagua is the day you are going to summon Aden Duale," Duale said.

He maintained that he would not appear before the commission ahead of Gachagua.

"When the NCIC summons me, I must also be accompanied by Rigathi Gachagua. When I am accompanied by my lawyers, Gachagua should also have his. But one thing I will not do is go to the NCIC offices before Gachagua does," he said.

Duale accused Gachagua of consistently making statements that he claimed had deepened ethnic divisions in the country.

"If there is one person who has consistently spread hate speech in this country, it is Rigathi Gachagua. You do personal attacks on the personality and the character of the President," Duale said.

Duale also referred to several controversial statements previously attributed to the former Deputy President, arguing that they had not resulted in any action despite attracting national attention.

Duale also accused Gachagua of previously questioning the appointment of members of the Somali community to senior government positions, particularly within the security sector.

"You are the same person who questioned why people from the Somali community have been appointed to senior government positions."

According to Duale, Gachagua had repeatedly advanced ethnic politics by championing his own community while criticising others for doing the same.

"You have on countless occasions stood on the podium bragging about your people. And when we now come out to defend our people, you are shouting from the rooftops and calling us names. Do you think we are stupid? We will speak for our community."

The Health Cabinet Secretary also dismissed suggestions that his political experience could be compared with that of the former Deputy President.

"I joined politics in 2005. You joined politics the other day, and you are no match for me."

Even as he defended his remarks, Duale shifted focus to the 2027 General Election, unveiling what he described as an ambitious political mobilisation strategy aimed at delivering overwhelming support for President William Ruto across Kenya's pastoralist regions.

He said he would spearhead efforts to consolidate at least five million votes from pastoralist counties in support of President Ruto's re-election bid.

"We have already started aggressive campaigns to ensure all eligible voters register and that those without identity cards obtain the documents."

"We will mobilise our community according to our numbers to elect President William Ruto for a second term."

Duale argued that the president had earned the support of the Somali community not because of ethnicity but because of what he described as unprecedented inclusivity in government.

"We are not electing President Ruto because he is a Kalenjin, but because he has brought equality to all Kenyans more than any President before him, especially us Somalis."

He said previous administrations had subjected residents of northern Kenya to decades of discrimination in accessing critical government services.

"For more than 60 years, it was extremely difficult for our people to obtain identity cards, birth certificates and passports. That is no longer the case."

The Cabinet Secretary has consistently denied accusations that his Lafey speech amounted to ethnic incitement.

Garissa township MP Dekow Mohamed speaking at a Garissa hotel. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO