Wahome Urges Duale to Retract Remarks and Apologise
Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome has criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks he allegedly made about the Kikuyu community.
In a statement posted on X, Wahome called on Duale to withdraw the remarks. She also urged him to issue an unconditional apology.
According to Wahome, Duale’s response to the criticism has been inadequate. She said his explanation does not excuse the alleged comments.
The Lands CS also criticised Duale for refusing to apologise. She rejected his argument that other leaders had made worse remarks in the past.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right and only a fool who does not change his or her mind,” Wahome wrote.
She added that the alleged remarks had revealed the worst side of her Cabinet colleague. She urged him to retract the statements and apologise sincerely to the Kikuyu community.
Pressure Mounts on Duale
Notably, Wahome is the first serving Cabinet Secretary to publicly criticise Duale over the controversy.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to grow on the Health CS. Several political leaders and members of the public have warned that the remarks could fuel ethnic tensions if left unaddressed.
Among those who have condemned the comments are Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and several senators.
While some leaders have demanded an apology, others have called for Duale to resign.
Duale Responds as NCIC Investigates
However, Duale has defended the remarks. He insists that his comments, made during a public event in Mandera County, were taken out of context.
At the same time, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has launched investigations into claims that the remarks amounted to ethnic incitement.
