Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has declared that he will not honour a summons from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) unless former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is also called to answer over remarks he claims amounted to hate speech.
The Cabinet Secretary argued that the commission should apply the law equally to both government and opposition leaders.
Addressing residents in Garissa, Duale criticised the commission for what he described as selective enforcement, accusing it of pursuing state officials while overlooking similar allegations against opposition politicians.
He maintained that the NCIC had failed to act on statements he believes were directed at the Somali community and Muslims.
“If there is anyone who has made hate speech, then the number one person in Kenya is Rigathi Gachagua. He has never apologized for it. You can even insult me on social media if you want,” said Duale.
The Health CS insisted that he would only cooperate with the commission if Gachagua was questioned first over his past remarks.
“So, summon me together with Rigathi Gachagua. In fact, he should go in first and be questioned, and only then should I, as a Cabinet Secretary, be questioned. If you do not bring Rigathi Gachagua over the insults he directed at the Somali community and Muslims, I will not even acknowledge your letter. And I will not comply,” he said.
Duale further claimed that the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader had repeatedly made divisive statements without facing action from the commission.
He also defended comments he recently made in Mandera County, saying he had no intention of apologising and would instead continue mobilising his community to support the government.
The remarks come after the NCIC announced on Friday that it had opened investigations into alleged ethnic incitement involving Duale.
The inquiry followed a formal complaint linked to statements the Cabinet Secretary reportedly made while in Mandera.
The dispute now places the spotlight on the commission’s handling of hate speech complaints as public scrutiny grows over whether leaders from across the political divide are being subjected to the same standards.
