Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) alongside him, amid an escalating row over remarks that have sparked accusations of ethnic division.

Speaking during a fundraising event in Marsabit on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Duale said he would not attend any NCIC questioning alone, insisting that Gachagua must also be summoned over remarks he made in response to the controversy.

Duale: Summon me and Gachagua

Duale said he would appear before the commission with his lawyers, but only if Gachagua was also called to answer questions.

“Siku ile mimi nitaenda kwa NCIC, lazima mimi niandamane na Rigathi Gachagua. Nitaenda na wakili zangu. Rigathi, kuja na wakili zako,” Duale said.

He challenged the commission to summon Gachagua if it believed a hate speech offence had been committed.

“Number one Kenya ya hate speech ni Gachagua, and I am not apologetic. Ata mkitaka mnitukane kwa social media, so mniite. Nitakuja na Gachagua,” he added.

Duale further warned that he would not respond to the commission’s summons if Gachagua was excluded from the proceedings.

“Yeye ataingia ahojiwe ndio mimi kama Waziri nitahojiwa. Usipoleta Gachagua, hamuwezi kuniandikia barua and I will not comply,” he said.

Duale refuses to apologise

The CS’s remarks came amid growing uproar over comments he made during a political rally in Lafey, Mandera County, which critics have interpreted as divisive and targeting a particular community.

Speaking in Marsabit, Duale said he would not apologise or withdraw his remarks, insisting that he had done nothing wrong.

“Na hakuna hate speech mbaya kama kushinda mtu akisema wewe huna shares kwa hii serikali, huwezi kupata kazi,” he said.

Duale maintained that his comments were about political criticism and access to government opportunities, rather than an attack on any community.

NCIC launches investigations

The controversy has since drawn the attention of the NCIC, which said it had received a complaint regarding the remarks and launched investigations.

The commission said its investigations department was conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the statements.

Meanwhile, Gachagua has urged members of the Mt Kenya community not to direct their anger at the Somali community, saying Duale should be held responsible for his own remarks.

“They have not wronged us. I urge the people of Mt Kenya not to vilify the Somali community, because they have done nothing wrong. It is Duale who has wronged us,” Gachagua said.