NAIROBI – Senators have warned political leaders against making remarks that could fuel ethnic division ahead of the 2027 General Election, following the circulation of a viral video in which Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is alleged to have made controversial comments comparing different communities.
The issue was raised during Thursday afternoon’s Senate sitting, where lawmakers from both the Majority and Minority sides said leaders should exercise caution when addressing sensitive matters relating to ethnicity, warning that such statements could undermine national unity.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina cautioned against comparing communities or portraying one as superior to another, saying Kenya should avoid rhetoric that could revive memories of the 2007/08 post-election violence.
“Such comments will drag this country back in the trenches where we were in 2007,” Ole Kina warned.
He urged leaders to reject tribal politics and instead focus on promoting unity among all Kenyans.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua echoed the concerns, saying public officials have a responsibility to use language that fosters peace and cohesion.
He criticized the alleged remarks attributed to Duale, saying no Kenyan community should be demeaned or subjected to divisive political narratives.
Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, while noting that he had watched the widely circulated video, said leaders should avoid making emotive statements capable of creating tension in the country.
“If leaders make such emotive utterances, they will definitely bring disharmony in the country,” Haji said.
The debate was, however, cut short by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who reminded senators that parliamentary rules do not permit discussion of the conduct of a Cabinet Secretary without a substantive motion before the House.
Kingi directed members wishing to pursue the matter to file a formal motion in accordance with parliamentary procedures.
The senators were reacting to a video circulating on social media in which Duale is alleged to have compared the Somali and Kikuyu communities by population before recounting what he described as historical discrimination against Somalis during the administrations of former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
In the video, which has attracted widespread public attention, the Health Cabinet Secretary also credits President William Ruto with ending what he described as discriminatory practices against the Somali community.
The exchange in the Senate comes amid growing calls for political leaders to exercise restraint in their public remarks as the country gradually enters the political season ahead of the 2027 General Election, with lawmakers stressing that national unity should remain a priority.
