Duale tells off Gachagua over Ol Kalou by-election victory, says seat belonged to Jubilee

Health CS Aden Duale has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's celebration of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) victory in the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying he  should stop boasting about defeating UDA.

Speaking in Lafey Constituency, Mandera County, during a community empowerment initiative hosted by area MP Abdikheir Mohammed, Duale said Gachagua's claims of delivering a major political blow to UDA were misleading, arguing that the seat historically belonged to the Jubilee Party.

"The former MP, David Kiaraho, was elected on a Jubilee Party ticket. Gachagua should stop bragging that he defeated UDA because that seat was not ours in the first place," Duale said.

The Health CS was referring to the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in which the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau the winner after he garnered 35,440 votes.

UDA candidate Samuel Muchina came a distant second with 5,450 votes, while Jubilee Party candidate Wilson Kigwa finished third after securing 198 votes.

Following the victory, Gachagua described Kamau's emphatic win as a clear reflection of the will of the people, saying the result demonstrated growing public confidence in DCP.

The former Deputy President, who has since fallen out with his former boss President William Ruto, also said the victory would strengthen DCP's presence in Parliament and amplify the party's voice in national affairs.

However, Duale downplayed the significance of the win, noting that the Kenya Kwanza coalition had emerged victorious in ten previous by-elections through UDA and its affiliate parties, arguing that Gachagua had no reason to celebrate after winning a single seat.

"You cannot boast after winning one by-election when UDA and its affiliate parties have won ten. That is not something to brag about," he said.

He reaffirmed the Government's commitment to fostering national unity, saying the Kenya Kwanza administration was focused on bringing all regions of the country together regardless of political affiliation.

"We are going to unite all the people of Kenya who believe in the unity of our nation, starting with North Eastern, Nyanza, the Coast, Upper Eastern, Western and every other part of this country," he said.

Duale also used the occasion to rally support for President William Ruto's administration, highlighting what he described as major achievements in education, infrastructure and service delivery.

He said the Government had addressed the long-standing shortage of teachers in the North Eastern region through massive recruitment.

"It is under President Ruto's leadership that more than 5,000 teachers have been employed across the three counties in this region alone. We all know the education sector was facing a serious crisis that was almost collapsing because of the shortage of teachers. Today, we are also witnessing major infrastructure development projects that were previously unimaginable," he said.

The CS cited the ongoing Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera highway, estimated to cost about Sh100 billion, as one of the largest infrastructure projects currently being implemented in the country.

"As we speak, the President launched one of the largest infrastructure projects in Kenya, the road from Isiolo through Wajir to Mandera. It is wrong for anyone to claim that investing in this region is a waste of public resources," he said.

Duale argued that President Ruto's only "mistake" had been his commitment to uniting Kenyans, saying those opposed to inclusive politics were the ones attacking the Head of State.

"The only mistake the President has made is uniting the country. Those who believe in politics of exclusion are the ones fighting him because they are uncomfortable with a united Kenya," he said.

He also called on local administrators to work closely with national registration officials to ensure all eligible residents without national identity cards were registered, saying this would enable them to subsequently register as voters and participate in future elections.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, who also addressed the gathering, defended the Kenya Kwanza administration's development record, saying the Government had ensured every part of the country benefited equally from national development projects regardless of ethnicity or political inclination.

He said the expansion of road infrastructure and other projects to historically marginalised regions demonstrated the Government's commitment to equitable development.

"Kenya is one united nation and every region deserves equal development. The ongoing projects across the country show that this administration is committed to ensuring no part of Kenya is left behind," Wetang'ula said.

The Speaker argued that the administration's development agenda was among the reasons President Ruto deserved a second term in office.

He also urged residents of Mandera County to apply for national identity cards and register as voters, noting that the Government had simplified the process of acquiring identification documents.

Wetang'ula said obtaining national identity cards would enable more eligible citizens to register as voters and actively participate in the country's democratic process by electing leaders of their choice.

The community empowerment event was attended by a host of leaders, including President Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet, Taveta MP John Bwire, Shinyalu MP Fredrick Lusuli, Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan and Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, among others.