Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has claimed that President William Ruto has already secured significant support ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking in Mombasa while addressing members of the Somali community, Duale said the political landscape was already taking shape ahead of the next presidential contest. He cited the backing from pastoralist and Muslim-dominated counties, as well as parts of the Rift Valley and Western regions.
Duale stated that Ruto has a substantial geographical base even before campaigns enter their decisive phase. He claimed that Ruto is already sure of getting the 25 per cent requirement from the pastoralist and Muslim-dominated counties, Mombasa included. Additionally, Duale said that when you add the seven counties in Rift Valley and Western regions, Ruto has already secured support from 45 counties.
According to Article 138 of the Constitution, a presidential candidate must secure more than half of all votes cast nationally and at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of more than half of the counties. With 47 counties, the 25 per cent threshold applies to at least 24 counties. Duale's remarks appeared to be aimed at highlighting the geographical spread he believes Ruto can draw support from in 2027.
Duale also challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's repeated references to the numerical strength of the Central Kenya vote bloc. Gachagua had claimed that the region has more than eight million voters. However, Duale argued that the 2022 presidential election results did not support treating Central Kenya as an eight-million-vote bloc aligned to one political camp.
Duale debunked Gachagua's claim of eight million votes, citing the 2022 presidential election results. He stated that the Central region gave Ruto three million votes and Raila Odinga one million, and added that other Kenyans who reside in the region also voted. Duale urged politicians to base their electoral calculations on official voter registration and election data rather than broad claims about regional populations.
The Health CS also questioned the geographical reach of other opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections. He mentioned that Sifuna only has Bungoma County, while Kalonzo only has three counties, referring to Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos. Duale's remarks come amid heightened political activity and realignments as parties and political leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Duale emphasized the importance of using accurate data in electoral calculations. He stated that politicians should use the IEBC register and compare data to tell the truth about their support base. With the 2027 General Election approaching, politicians are positioning themselves, and Duale's claims are part of the ongoing debate about the electoral landscape in Kenya.
Key points
- Duale claims Ruto has secured support from 45 counties
- Duale challenges Gachagua's claim of eight million votes in Central Kenya
- Duale urges politicians to use accurate data in electoral calculations
