Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called for the resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar over what he described as divisive tribal remarks.
He stated that leaders who promote ethnic divisions have no place in public office.
Speaking during a funeral service in Mumoni, Mwingi North, Kitui county, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Kalonzo claimed the Kenya Kwanza administration has failed to foster national unity and urged the two leaders to step down.
"They have no reason to claim to be public leaders. They aren't. They have failed the test miserably," Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader argued that public officials should be held to the highest standards of national cohesion, insisting that leaders whose remarks fuel ethnic tensions should be removed from office.
Kalonzo's remarks come amid growing controversy over statements made separately by Duale and Hassan Omar, which have attracted criticism from political leaders and sections of the public.
Duale has come under scrutiny following comments he made in Lafey Constituency that were widely interpreted as insulting to the Mt Kenya community. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has since indicated that it is investigating the Health Cabinet Secretary over alleged divisive utterances.
However, Duale has rejected calls to apologise or withdraw the remarks.
In a statement issued on July 24, the Health CS said his comments had been widely misquoted and taken out of context to advance what he termed false and misleading narratives.
He explained that the phrase, "Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib," is a well-known Somali proverb and was never intended as an attack on any community.
"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," Duale said.
Speaking on Saturday, Duale maintained that he stood by his remarks and would not apologise, insisting they had been deliberately misrepresented.
Meanwhile, UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar recently issued an apology after facing public backlash over comments he made in Mombasa regarding historical land injustices at the Coast, which some interpreted as targeting the Kikuyu community.
Omar clarified that his remarks were intended to address long-standing land grievances and were not meant to demean any ethnic group.
He nevertheless expressed regret to those who were offended by his comments.
The twin controversies have renewed debate over
ethnic rhetoric in national politics, with calls mounting for leaders to
exercise restraint and uphold constitutional values that promote national unity
and peaceful coexistence.
