North Eastern professionals condemn Duale's remarks, say he does not speak for region

A coalition of professionals from North Eastern Kenya has condemned remarks attributed to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, accusing him of making divisive ethnic statements and distancing the region from comments they say do not reflect its values of peaceful coexistence.

The North Eastern Kenya Professionals Forum, a coalition of professionals from Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Isiolo counties, said the remarks made by Duale during a public empowerment forum in Lafey Constituency, Mandera County, were reckless and unbecoming of a senior government official.

The controversy follows a video recorded during a public event in Lafey Constituency, where Duale praised the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development efforts in North Eastern before making remarks perceived as targeting the Kikuyu community. He also criticised former administrations over what he described as neglect of the region.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the professionals said Duale’s comments were made in his personal capacity and should not be interpreted as representing the views of people from North Eastern Kenya.

“Such utterances from a sitting Cabinet Secretary are reckless, unbecoming of his office, and undermine the national cohesion enshrined in our Constitution. We state clearly that Hon. Duale does not speak for the people of North Eastern Kenya. His remarks were made in his personal and individual capacity, and must not be mistaken for the values of hospitality and coexistence that our region holds towards the Kikuyu community and all other Kenyan communities,” the coalition said.

The professionals maintained that the region remains committed to peaceful coexistence and respect for all communities, including the Kikuyu community, which they described as an integral part of Kenya.

They further defended the constitutional right of individuals and communities to support or oppose any political administration, saying political differences should not be viewed as disloyalty.

“Political dissent is not disloyalty,” the forum stated, adding that every Kenyan has a right to participate in democratic processes as guaranteed under the Constitution.

The statement comes as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) investigates complaints filed over remarks attributed to Duale.

The Commission confirmed that its Investigations Department had commenced a probe into the matter, describing it as a “thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the said utterances”.

The North Eastern professionals welcomed the NCIC investigation, urging the commission to conclude the process expeditiously, transparently and without political interference. They called for accountability for any leader found to have violated laws against hate speech and ethnic incitement.

The group also urged security agencies to remain vigilant against statements that could fuel ethnic divisions, warning that careless political rhetoric could reopen painful memories of the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

They called on President William Ruto to ensure members of his Cabinet promote national unity and respect for all communities, saying public officials have a responsibility to protect Kenya’s cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

Duale has since defended his remarks, saying they were taken out of context.