Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a stinging rebuke to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, warning him against reducing Nairobi’s complex political landscape to a binary ethnic contest. Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Nairobi on Sunday, Duale dismantled Gachagua’s recent assertion that the capital’s leadership is the reserve of specific communities.

The sharp exchange marks the latest flare-up in the battle for the soul of Nairobi ahead of the 2027 General Election. It comes just days after Gachagua, now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), claimed he had struck a pact with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to "dominate" Nairobi’s elective seats.

The 'Ownership' Fallacy

Duale characterized Gachagua’s remarks as a dangerous regression to tribal politics that ignores the cosmopolitan reality of the city. He emphasized that Nairobi’s status as East Africa’s economic hub was built on the sweat and capital of all 44 Kenyan tribes, not just a select few.

"Nairobi does not belong to one community or two," Duale asserted, addressing the guests. "It belongs to the Somali entrepreneur in Eastleigh, the Luo professional in Upper Hill, the Luhya trader in Gikomba, and every Kenyan who calls this city home. To suggest otherwise is not just wrong; it is reckless."

The CS argued that the "shareholder" mentality—a hallmark of Gachagua’s rhetoric even during his tenure as Deputy President—has no place in a modern capital. He warned that such narratives threaten the business environment by creating an atmosphere of exclusion.

• The Trigger: Gachagua recently claimed his DCP party and Kalonzo's Wiper would capture the Governor, Senator, and Woman Rep seats, plus 16 of 17 MP slots in 2027.
• The Rebuttal: Duale insists leadership must be based on merit and the ability to serve a diverse populace, not ethnic arithmetic.
• The Stakes: Control over Nairobi's multi-billion shilling economy and its crucial voting bloc.

2027 Alliances Taking Shape

The backdrop to this war of words is the shifting sands of political alliances. Since his impeachment and subsequent formation of the DCP, Gachagua has been aggressively courting the opposition. His proposed alliance with Kalonzo Musyoka aims to consolidate the Kamba and Mt Kenya vote blocs—a strategy Duale dismissed as "old school" and out of touch with the Gen Z-driven demand for competence over tribe.

Political analysts note that Duale’s intervention is likely strategic. By positioning the government as the defender of a unified, multi-ethnic Nairobi, he aims to undercut Gachagua’s appeal to his ethnic base while courting the city's vast population of 'detribalized' voters.

"We have moved past the era where leaders sit in a boardroom and decide who owns Nairobi," Duale added. "The voters will decide, and they will look for service delivery, not tribal chieftains."