Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has declined to apologise for comments made in Mandera County that prompted an investigation by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over alleged ethnic incitement.
Speaking at a public event in Lafey Constituency, Duale defended his use of a Somali proverb which critics claimed was ethnically offensive. The phrase, "Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib," translates to a hyena accustomed to a habit struggling to abandon it. Some opponents interpreted this as a derogatory reference to the Kikuyu community, but Duale maintained it is a common Somali expression without intended insult.
He further criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of hate speech for suggesting some groups have no share in government and thus no access to jobs.
Claims of Historical Marginalisation
Duale also accused the administrations of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta of marginalising North Eastern Kenya, citing denial of national identity cards and lack of development. He praised the current Kenya Kwanza government under President William Ruto for reversing this trend by improving access to identity documents and increasing investments in the region.
Political Pledge
On the political front, Duale promised to mobilise pastoralist communities across ten counties—including Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, Samburu, Turkana, Narok, and Kajiado—to deliver over 5 million votes in support of Ruto’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The remarks sparked condemnation from opposition leaders such as Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Alice Wahome, who urged public officials to avoid language that demeans ethnic communities. The NCIC continues to investigate whether Duale’s statements violated Kenya’s hate speech laws.
