Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa has responded to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale after he questioned her ability to read.
In his remarks, Duale claimed that he would help Jumwa read Cabinet papers because she could not understand its contents.
"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," he said.
Jumwa, however, disputed Duale's account of their relationship in Cabinet, saying he rarely spoke to her during their time together.
She recalled an incident involving Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, whom she said she had taken to meet President William Ruto.
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"I once sat with you in the Cabinet, and there was never a day you spoke to me, except for that one day when I took Hassan Joho to meet President William Ruto," she said.
According to Jumwa, the Cabinet meeting that followed the meeting between Joho and Ruto was the occasion when Duale confronted her over the decision to take Joho to State House.
She accused the Health CS of using insulting language against her.
"The following day, we had a Cabinet meeting, and that was the day you spoke to me with a lot of bitterness and insults, asking why I had taken Joho, a drug baron and an illiterate, to meet the President at State House," she added.
Jumwa further alleged that Duale dismissed her when she attempted to explain her decision and accused him of hypocrisy in his current criticism of her.
"You insulted me; when I wanted to explain why I had done so, you told me to leave. Such hypocrisy will not help you, nor will it help anyone who sees you as a pillar of support," she further said.
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Falhada Dekow is among leaders who criticised Duale over 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.
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