Duale fires back at Gachagua for demanding presidential debate with Ruto
By Mustafa Juma, February 12, 2026Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his demand for a presidential debate with President William Ruto, terming the call misplaced and legally untenable.
In a hard-hitting statement shared via his official X account on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Duale argued that presidential debates are reserved for duly qualified candidates and not individuals who have been impeached from office.
“Mr Rigathi. You cannot demand a presidential debate when you have already been impeached and stripped of the very legitimacy required to contest for public office. A presidential debate is for candidates, not for individuals nursing political nostalgia,” Duale stated.
Gachagua’s remarks
Gachagua had taken to his official X account to challenge President William Ruto to a public presidential debate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader had also argued that he could not debate the people he termed as Ruto’s employees, arguing that he is anxiously waiting to take on Ruto during the next presidential debate.
“I have heard an employee of William Ruto was inviting me to some debate. Laughable! I don’t debate nor engage with employees of William Ruto. I am only available for one debate with the Ruto team, the Presidential Debate next year between Mr. William Ruto and I. His employees should help him prepare talking notes early enough,” Gachagua stated.
Duale dismisses Gachagua
But Duale dismissed the demand as “political fiction”, questioning how Gachagua could envision himself on the ballot.
“It is political fiction to imagine yourself on a ballot you are legally barred from appearing on. You say you do not debate ’employees’. Yet here you are, issuing statements about one. If you truly believed I was beneath you, you would not tremble at the thought of engaging me,” Duale wrote on X.
Moreover, Duale claimed that Gachagua does not qualify for the 2027 presidential debate, noting that the debate will not feature candidates disqualified by history, by law, and by their own record.
“The Presidential Debate next year will be between duly qualified candidates. It will not feature those disqualified by history, by law, and by their own record. Until then, focus less on imaginary podiums and more on explaining how you squandered the one you once had,” he stated.