NAIROBI — Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa have become embroiled in a public political dispute, with both politicians trading accusations and revealing details about their time serving in President William Ruto’s administration.
The dispute intensified after Duale criticised Jumwa over her political position and her previous claims regarding her removal from the Cabinet. Speaking in Mombasa on August 15, Duale claimed that he had sat next to Jumwa during Cabinet meetings and sometimes assisted her in understanding Cabinet papers.
Duale alleged that Jumwa struggled with some of the documents presented during Cabinet discussions and suggested that her performance in government contributed to her eventual removal from office.
Jumwa Hits Back
Jumwa strongly rejected Duale’s comments, accusing him of hypocrisy and attempting to undermine her politically.
She claimed that Duale rarely spoke to her during their time in Cabinet and recalled an incident involving former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. Jumwa said she had accompanied Joho to meet President Ruto and that Duale confronted her angrily about the meeting during a subsequent Cabinet session.
Jumwa also alleged that Duale had privately expressed frustration with President Ruto after being moved from the Defence Ministry. According to her, Duale described the president in highly critical terms and complained that Ruto was ungrateful and heartless. She said she advised him to remain grateful because he had still been given another Cabinet position.
Political Disagreement Widens
The dispute has also expanded beyond their personal exchanges. Jumwa warned Duale against attempting to dictate the political direction of Kenya’s Coast region, arguing that local leaders and residents should determine their own political choices ahead of the 2027 General Election.
EALA MP Falhada Iman Dekow has criticised Duale’s remarks, saying political disagreements should not be used to humiliate or demean women leaders. She argued that politicians have the right to choose their political alliances without facing personal attacks.
From Cabinet Allies to Political Rivals
Duale and Jumwa were both prominent figures in the Kenya Kwanza administration. Jumwa served as Cabinet Secretary for Gender before being removed from government during the major Cabinet changes that followed the Gen Z-led protests of 2024. Duale, meanwhile, moved from Defence to other Cabinet responsibilities and is currently serving as Health Cabinet Secretary.
The increasingly personal exchange has provided a rare glimpse into tensions among former allies within Ruto’s administration. However, the allegations and private conversations described by both sides have not been independently verified.
