Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Alice Wahome, has publicly challenged Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to retract comments he allegedly made about the Kikuyu community and to offer a sincere apology.
In a statement posted on X, Wahome criticized Duale for his refusal to apologize despite widespread calls from political leaders and the public. She dismissed Duale's defense that others had made worse remarks, emphasizing that "two wrongs don't make a right" and urging him to reconsider his stance.
Wahome described Duale's comments as having "brought out the worst" in him and insisted that he must retract his statements and apologize profusely to the Kikuyu community.
Her stance marks the first time a serving Cabinet Secretary has openly condemned Duale over the controversy, which has sparked concerns about escalating ethnic tensions in the country.
Broader Political Response
- Other prominent leaders, including Wiper Party's Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party’s Martha Karua, have also condemned Duale’s remarks.
- Some politicians have called for the Health CS to retract his statements or even resign.
- The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has initiated investigations into the alleged hate speech.
Duale, meanwhile, maintains that his comments made in Mandera County were taken out of context and has defended his position despite the backlash.
