CS Duale on the Spot Over Remarks About Aisha Jumwa

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Falhada Dekow has criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks he made about former Cabinet colleague Aisha Jumwa.

Duale’s remarks, in which he questioned Jumwa’s understanding of Cabinet papers, sparked a reaction from Dekow, who argued that political differences should not be used as a basis for demeaning women leaders.

"Do not be threatened by one of your sisters who has lost her way. I used to sit next to Aisha Jumwa in the Cabinet and help her read Cabinet papers. She could not even explain them. I felt embarrassed," Duale said.

Reacting to the remarks, Dekow condemned Duale's utterances against Jumwa, emphasizing that political alignment is a personal choice protected by democratic principles.

"I strongly condemn the utterances attributed by CS Duale against Hon. Aisha Jumwa. Everyone has a right to choose their political alignment.

"We can belong to different parties, support different leaders, and hold different political opinions that is the essence of democracy," she said.

Dekow said political disagreements should allow room for criticism of a leader’s record and political choices without crossing into personal attacks or disrespect.

"But political alignment should never be used as a licence to demean, ridicule, or undermine a woman leader. You can disagree with Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana politically. You can challenge her record. You can support a different political camp.

"But you do not have to disrespect her dignity to make your political point," she added.

Duale called on women in leadership to avoid normalising the humiliation of fellow women for political purposes, noting that political opponents can eventually become colleagues.

"As women in leadership, we must understand that today’s political opponent may be tomorrow’s colleague and regardless of political differences, we should never normalize the humiliation of women for political entertainment," she further said.

This comes weeks after Duale responded to criticism over remarks he made in Lafey Constituency, saying his words were widely misquoted and taken out of context.   

In a statement on Friday, July 24, he said the remarks had been used to create false and misleading narratives, insisting that his message was not directed at any community or intended to demean anyone. 

Explaining the phrase he used, Duale said it was a Somali proverb that had long been part of the community’s oral tradition and was meant figuratively to describe the difficulty of ending long-enjoyed advantages.

"The phrase I used, "Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib," is a well-known Somali proverb that has long been part of our oral tradition. It is a figurative expression about the difficulty of ending entrenched habits or long-enjoyed advantages. It was never directed at any community or intended to demean anyone," he wrote.

Duale said his remarks were intended to emphasise the need for inclusivity as the government continued to provide opportunities for Kenyans from all regions and ethnic communities to serve the nation.

"My message was about the importance of embracing inclusivity as the Government continues to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of their region or ethnicity, have an opportunity to serve the nation," he added.

Duale dismissed claims that his remarks amounted to ethnic incitement, describing the interpretation of his words as a deliberate distortion of his message.

"Attempts to portray my remarks as ethnic incitement are therefore dishonest and a deliberate distortion of what I said," he further said.

Duale also criticised what he described as selective outrage among some leaders, saying those condemning his remarks had previously remained silent when inflammatory statements targeting the Somali community were made.

"I also find it regrettable that some of those now expressing outrage remained silent when inflammatory remarks targeting the Somali community were made in the past. Public leaders should reject selective outrage and apply the same standards consistently," he concluded.