Defiant Health CS Duale says he won't apologise over remarks drawing uproar

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. (Photo: MoH Kenya)

By Barack Oduor
Saturday, July 25, 2026

Listen to article

4 min listen

Audio reading is not supported on this browser.

Ready

Thanks for listening. Continue with a related story, or tap the speaker icon on the next page to listen.

President Ruto directs Nairobi community health promoters to be covered under SHA

Charity Kilei · 9 hours ago

Latest Stories

Following Duale's remarks, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called on residents of the Mt Kenya region not to direct their anger at the Somali community.

Speaking during a roadside rally in Embu County on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Gachagua said Duale should be held responsible for his own remarks and that the Somali community should not be blamed.

“They have not wronged us. I urge the people of Mt Kenya not to vilify the Somali community, because they have done nothing wrong. It is Duale who has wronged us,” Gachagua said.

He noted that the relationship between the Mt Kenya residents and Somali communities had remained strong, particularly in business, and should not be damaged by the remarks of one individual.

The controversy has also drawn the attention of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), which has launched investigations into the remarks.

In a statement issued on Friday, July 24, 2026, the commission said it had received a complaint and that its investigations department was conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry.

“NCIC acknowledges receipt of a complaint regarding alleged utterances by CS Duale. Our Investigations Department is conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the said utterances,” the commission said.

The remarks came out after the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, in which Democracy for the Citizens Party candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeated the United Democratic Alliance candidate.

The Health CS had earlier dismissed opposition celebrations over the outcome, arguing that Ol Kalou had not been held by UDA before the election because the late area MP had been elected on a Jubilee Party ticket.