Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has declared he will not respond to a summons from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) unless former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also called to account.
Speaking at a wedding in Garissa, Duale accused the NCIC of biased enforcement of hate speech laws, emphasizing that all leaders should be treated equally regardless of political standing.
Equal Accountability Demanded
"The day you summon Rigathi Gachagua is the day you summon Aden Duale. I will appear before NCIC only alongside Gachagua," Duale stated emphatically.
He alleged that Gachagua had made inflammatory comments targeting the Somali and Muslim communities, including questioning appointments of Somali individuals in senior government and security roles, as well as disparaging Somali business leaders.
Duale insisted that unless the commission investigates Gachagua's remarks, he would not comply with any summons, arguing that selective investigations undermine the commission’s credibility.
Political Context and Support for President Ruto
In the same event, Duale expressed confidence in President William Ruto's re-election prospects, highlighting the President's efforts to address longstanding injustices faced by the Somali community, particularly regarding access to identity documents over six decades.
"For more than 60 years, the Somali community was marginalized in obtaining IDs, passports, and birth certificates. President Ruto recognized and corrected this," Duale noted.
Background on NCIC Investigation
The NCIC recently confirmed it had launched inquiries into remarks Duale made in Somali during a public event in Mandera County after complaints of ethnic incitement. Duale has dismissed the allegations, claiming his words were misinterpreted.
