Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has vowed not to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over alleged divisive remarks unless former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is summoned first, escalating a political feud between the two leaders.

Duale, speaking during a wedding ceremony in Garissa Town on Sunday, also rejected calls to apologise or retract remarks he made in Somali during an event in Lafey, which critics have interpreted as targeting the Kikuyu community.

“I want to tell the NCIC that the day you are going to summon Rigathi Gachagua is the day you are going to summon Aden Duale,” he said.

“When the NCIC summons me, I must also be accompanied by Rigathi Gachagua. When I am accompanied by my lawyers, Gachagua should also have his. But one thing I will not do is go to the NCIC offices before Gachagua does.”

The remarks came after the NCIC confirmed that it had received a complaint against Duale and opened investigations into the Lafey comments.

“The National Cohesion and Integration Commission acknowledges receipt of a complaint regarding alleged utterances by Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale. Our Investigations Department is conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the said utterances,” the commission said in a statement on Friday.

Gachagua has been among Duale’s strongest critics over the remarks.

Addressing supporters in Embu, the former Deputy President accused Duale of acting on behalf of President William Ruto, claiming the Cabinet Secretary’s political rhetoric was part of a wider government strategy.

“Duale does not speak on his own. Such harsh political rhetoric is choreographed and sent by President William Ruto,” Gachagua claimed.

Duale hit back on Sunday, accusing Gachagua of hypocrisy and alleging that the former Deputy President had himself repeatedly made statements that promoted ethnic divisions.

“If there is one person who has consistently spread hate speech in this country, it is Rigathi Gachagua,” Duale said.

He cited previous remarks attributed to Gachagua concerning the Somali community, including questions over appointments of Kenyan Somalis to senior government positions, particularly in the security sector.

“You are the same person who questioned why people from the Somali community have been appointed to senior government positions, especially in the security sector,” Duale said.

He also accused Gachagua of applying different standards when advocating for his own community.

“You have on countless occasions stood on the podium bragging about your people. And when we now come out to defend our people, you are shouting on the rooftops and calling us names,” he said.

The Health CS maintained that his Lafey remarks did not amount to ethnic incitement and sought to frame his position as defending the interests of his community.

The confrontation comes amid heightened political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election, with both leaders increasingly positioning themselves in the contest for regional voting blocs.

Duale said he would spearhead efforts to mobilise at least five million votes from pastoralist communities for President Ruto’s re-election.

“We have already started aggressive campaigns to ensure all eligible voters register as voters and that those without identity cards obtain the documents,” he said.

“We will mobilise our community according to our numbers to elect President William Ruto for a second term.”

Duale said support for Ruto among the Somali community was based on what he described as the administration’s inclusivity rather than ethnic considerations.

“We are not electing President Ruto because he is a Kalenjin, but because he has brought equality to all Kenyans more than any President before him, especially us Somalis,” he said.

He cited improved access to identity cards, birth certificates and passports in northern Kenya, arguing that residents of the region had faced discrimination in accessing the documents under previous administrations.

The NCIC investigation now places the commission at the centre of the increasingly bitter political confrontation, with attention turning to whether it will formally summon Duale and how it will respond to his demand that Gachagua face similar scrutiny.

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