Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced plans to mobilise Somalis from Somalia to support President William Ruto's re-election bid in the 2027 General Election. Speaking to members of the Mombasa Somali Community Association, Duale highlighted his 25 years of experience in politics, having served under former Presidents Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and current President Ruto. This experience has allowed him to compare the different approaches of these administrations towards Muslims and minority communities.
Duale criticised security operations during the Kibaki and Kenyatta administrations, stating that Muslim youths were unjustly killed in the name of fighting terrorism. He specifically mentioned the Masjid Musa incident in Mombasa, expressing concern that such actions were carried out under the guise of counter-terrorism efforts. Duale emphasised that Kenya belongs to all its citizens, regardless of their background, and urged for honesty and truth-telling regarding past injustices.
The CS praised the Ruto administration for making it easier for Somali and Muslim communities to access national identity cards, passports, and birth certificates. Previously, members of these communities faced lengthy vetting processes when seeking identification documents. Duale noted that under President Ruto, children from these communities can now access crucial documents without hindrance or excessive questioning from security agencies.
Duale addressed criticism of President Ruto's decision to remove additional vetting requirements for identification documents. Critics had claimed that this move would allow people from Somalia to obtain Kenyan documents. In response, Duale stated that the Ruto administration's efforts have brought about equality and inclusion, citing the appointment of Muslims to senior government positions as evidence.
The CS urged Muslims to support President Ruto's re-election, describing him as a leader who is brave, firm, truthful, and principled in defending the interests of their communities and religion. Duale also criticised the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), suggesting that the party had lost some of its earlier political strength. He specifically mentioned the appointment of Edwin Sifuna as secretary general as a turning point.
Duale reflected on his past involvement with ODM, mentioning that the party was stronger when Raila Odinga was the leader and Dr Ruto was his deputy. He also noted that the current political arrangement has brought together leaders from ODM and other parties. By mobilising Somalis in Somalia, Duale aims to demonstrate the support of the Somali community for President Ruto's re-election bid.
The move by Duale to mobilise Somalis in Somalia for Ruto's re-election bid has significant implications for Kenya's politics. It highlights the efforts of the Ruto administration to build alliances and garner support from various communities, both within and outside Kenya. As the 2027 General Election approaches, it remains to be seen how this mobilisation effort will impact the electoral landscape.
Key points
- Duale pledges to mobilise Somalis in Somalia for Ruto's re-election.
- The Ruto administration has made it easier for Somali and Muslim communities to access identification documents.
- Duale criticises ODM, citing a loss of political strength.
