Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has sharply criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks he made after the recent Ol Kalou by-election, saying his comments risk creating unnecessary ethnic divisions.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 24, Waiguru described the Cabinet Secretary’s remarks as “deeply regrettable” and urged leaders to be careful with their public statements, especially as political activity begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Waiguru argued that it was wrong to blame the government’s political challenges on tribal issues. She reminded leaders that the Kikuyu community had strongly supported the current administration in previous elections and should not now be singled out.
“The ethnic profiling remarks made by CS Aden Duale in response to the Ol Kalou by-election are deeply regrettable. It is both overly simplistic and dangerous to reduce the government’s political challenges to tribal prejudice,” she said.
The governor also challenged Duale to take responsibility for his words, saying his experience in politics should have guided him to speak more carefully.
“Given your stature and long experience in politics, such utterances are wholly unacceptable.
An apology is not only necessary; it is owed to the people of Kenya,” Waiguru stated.
She added that Kenya belongs to every community and warned that careless political remarks could damage national unity.
Her comments come days after Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina also criticised Duale over the same issue.
Ledama warned that statements comparing communities could revive painful memories of the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
He urged politicians to avoid language that could divide Kenyans, saying leaders have a responsibility to promote peace and national cohesion.
The growing criticism of Duale’s remarks has sparked fresh debate over the role of political leaders in shaping public discourse.
As the country moves closer to the 2027 elections, Waiguru and other leaders are calling for respectful and responsible politics, insisting that national unity should remain above political competition.