By Fareed Mohammed
Leaders from the Somali community in Thika have called for Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to resign, accusing him of making remarks they describe as tribal and offensive to the Kikuyu community.
Addressing the media on Saturday, the leaders said the alleged remarks risk undermining the long-standing peaceful coexistence between the Somali and Kikuyu communities, which have lived and worked together in Thika for decades.
Community leader Mohammed Bure said political leaders should avoid statements that could incite ethnic divisions, emphasizing that the two communities have maintained cordial relations as neighbours and business partners.
“Somalis and Kikuyus have co-existed peacefully for decades as neighbours and business partners and should not be divided by inflammatory statements by politicians,” Bure said.
The leaders appealed to President William Ruto to take action against the Cabinet Secretary, arguing that the alleged remarks contradict the government’s commitment to promoting national unity and eliminating tribalism.
“We demand that CS Duale apologize. If not, let him resign. Your Excellency, you have repeatedly stated that you are fighting tribalism. Why not fire him? If he refuses to step down, we will initiate a petition to have him removed from office,” the leaders said.
They noted that Thika is home to significant Somali and Kikuyu populations who work together in trade, transport and other sectors of the economy, warning that divisive political rhetoric could erode the social and economic bonds that have been built over many years.
“We are one people. We trade together, we live together, and we will not allow anyone to divide us,” Bure added.
The leaders urged political figures to exercise restraint in their public statements and instead promote messages that foster national cohesion and peaceful coexistence
