Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come under intense public and political scrutiny following remarks made at a public event that critics say risk deepening ethnic divisions, prompting the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to examine the matter.
The controversy erupted after a video of Mr Duale’s speech delivered in Lafey Constituency circulated widely on social media. In the address, he spoke about the historical treatment of the Somali community, particularly in relation to the issuance of national identity cards, and credited President William Ruto’s administration with addressing what he described as long-standing discrimination.
However, sections of his remarks, in which he allegedly compared the Somali and Kikuyu communities and referred to their political and demographic influence, drew swift condemnation from politicians, civil society organisations and members of the public.
Critics argued that the comments were inappropriate for a senior government official and risked fuelling ethnic tensions at a time when the country is preparing for the 2027 General Election.
But Mr Duale has rejected the criticism, saying his remarks were widely misrepresented and taken out of context to create a false narrative.
“I have been widely misquoted and my remarks delivered in Lafey Constituency have been taken out of context to advance false and misleading narratives,” Mr Duale said.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the phrase, “Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib,” which he used during his speech, was a Somali proverb that was not directed at any community.
“The phrase I used is a well-known Somali proverb that has long been part of our oral tradition. It is a figurative expression about the difficulty of ending entrenched habits or long-enjoyed advantages. It was never directed at any community or intended to demean anyone,” he said.
Mr Duale maintained that his message was centred on inclusion and equal opportunity, arguing that the government was committed to ensuring all Kenyans, regardless of their region or ethnicity, have the opportunity to serve the country.
“My message was about the importance of embracing inclusivity as the Government continues to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of their region or ethnicity, have an opportunity to serve the nation,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary accused his critics of deliberately distorting his remarks, saying attempts to portray them as ethnic incitement were dishonest.
“Attempts to portray my remarks as ethnic incitement are therefore dishonest and a deliberate distortion of what I said,” Mr Duale said.
The NCIC confirmed it had received a formal complaint and was reviewing the matter to establish whether the remarks violated laws promoting national cohesion and prohibiting ethnic incitement.
“The Commission is committed to safeguarding national unity and will investigate any allegations of hate speech or ethnic incitement in accordance with the law,” NCIC said in a statement.
The remarks also sparked debate in the Senate, where lawmakers from across the political divide cautioned leaders against rhetoric that could undermine national cohesion.
Several senators urged public officials to exercise restraint when addressing issues touching on ethnicity, warning that Kenya’s history demonstrates the dangers of political mobilisation along ethnic lines. They called on leaders to promote unity rather than narratives that could be interpreted as favouring one community over another.
Political analysts observed that the controversy highlights the heightened sensitivity surrounding ethnic discourse as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
While acknowledging the importance of addressing historical injustices affecting marginalised communities, analysts argued that such conversations must be framed in a manner that promotes national unity rather than ethnic competition.
Supporters of Mr Duale defended him, maintaining that his remarks were taken out of context and were intended to highlight reforms aimed at ensuring equal access to government services.
They argued that the Cabinet Secretary was not advocating ethnic division but speaking about inclusion and correcting historical inequalities.
Mr Duale also criticised what he described as selective outrage, arguing that some leaders condemning his remarks had remained silent when inflammatory statements targeting the Somali community were made in the past.
“Public leaders should reject selective outrage and apply the same standards consistently,” he said.
As debate continued online, Kenyans remained divided, with some demanding accountability from senior public officials while others urged caution and called for the full context of the speech to be considered.
Mr Duale maintained that his commitment remained focused on unity and equal opportunity.
“Kenya’s strength lies in its diversity. My commitment remains to national unity, peaceful coexistence and equal opportunity for every Kenyan, without exception,” he said.
