Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has insisted he will only honour a summons by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) if former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also called to answer over remarks the two leaders have exchanged in recent days.
Speaking during a fundraising event in Marsabit County on Saturday, Mr Duale said he was prepared to appear before the commission with his lawyers but maintained that Mr Gachagua should also face questioning over what he termed inflammatory statements.
"Siku ile mimi nitaenda kwa NCIC, lazima mimi niandamane na Rigathi Gachagua. Nitaenda na wakili zangu. Rigathi, kuja na wakili zako," Mr Duale said.
He argued that the former Deputy President had repeatedly made remarks amounting to hate speech and should not be treated differently.
"Number one Kenya ya hate speech ni Gachagua, and I am not apologetic. Ata mkitaka mnitukane kwa social media, so mniite. Nitakuja na Gachagua," he said.
The Cabinet Secretary warned that he would disregard any summons if Mr Gachagua was not included in the investigations.
"Yeye ataingia ahojiwe ndio mimi kama Waziri nitahojiwa. Usipoleta Gachagua, hamuwezi kuniandikia barua and I will not comply," he said.
Mr Duale's remarks come amid growing scrutiny over comments he made during a political rally in Lafey, Mandera County, which critics said were divisive and likely to fuel ethnic tensions.
The controversy prompted the NCIC to open investigations after receiving a formal complaint over the remarks. The commission said its investigations department had launched an impartial inquiry to establish whether the statements violated laws governing hate speech and ethnic incitement.
Despite the criticism, Mr Duale remained defiant, saying he had no intention of apologising or retracting his remarks.
"Na hakuna hate speech mbaya kama kushinda mtu akisema wewe huna shares kwa hii serikali, huwezi kupata kazi," he said, maintaining that his comments were directed at political exclusion and access to government opportunities rather than any ethnic community.
The exchange has deepened the political rivalry between Mr Duale, a close ally of President William Ruto, and Mr Gachagua, who has emerged as one of the President's fiercest critics since his impeachment as Deputy President in October 2024.
Mr Gachagua has dismissed Mr Duale's remarks and urged members of the Mt Kenya region not to blame the Somali community for the controversy.
"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," Mr Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President has accused Mr Duale of making statements that risk undermining national cohesion, while the Cabinet Secretary maintains that he merely criticised political discrimination and did not target any community.
The NCIC has not indicated when it will conclude its investigations or whether any of the leaders will be summoned to record statements.
