Duale fires back at Gachagua over presidential debate call

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, dismissing his calls for a presidential debate and saying he lacks the legal standing to contest for office.

In a sharply worded statement on Thursday, Duale said Gachagua cannot demand a presidential debate after being impeached and removed from office.

“Mr Rigathi, you cannot demand a presidential debate when you have already been impeached and stripped of the very legitimacy required to contest for public office. A presidential debate is for candidates, not for individuals nursing political nostalgia,” Duale said.

The CS further termed any suggestion that Gachagua could be on the ballot as “political fiction.”

“It is political fiction to imagine yourself on a ballot you are legally barred from appearing on,” he added.

Duale also responded to remarks attributed to Gachagua that he does not debate “employees,” saying the former deputy president was contradicting himself by publicly engaging him.

“You say you do not debate ‘employees.’ Yet here you are, issuing statements about one. If you truly believed I was beneath you, you would not tremble at the thought of engaging me,” Duale said.

He maintained that the next presidential debate would only involve candidates who meet the constitutional threshold to run for office.

“The Presidential Debate next year will be between duly qualified candidates. It will not feature those disqualified by history, by law and by their own record,” he said.

Duale concluded by challenging Gachagua to reflect on his time in office instead of, what he termed, chasing “imaginary podiums.”

“Until then, focus less on imaginary podiums and more on explaining how you squandered the one you once had,” he stated.

Earlier,  Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua dismissed a challenge by Duale to engage in a televised debate.

Gachagua said he would only face President William Ruto in a presidential contest.

In a response shared on his social media X account, Gachagua downplayed Duale’s invitation, framing it as beneath his political standing.

“I have heard an employee of William Ruto was inviting me to some debate,” Gachagua said.

The exchange reflects growing tensions between the two leaders, who were previously allies in the United Democratic Alliance before Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024.

President William Ruto, however, appeared to distance himself from the debate proposal and cautioned against escalating the confrontation.

“I want to tell my friend Aden Duale, those who know English normally say, ‘Don’t argue with a fool; people will not know the difference,’” Ruto said, drawing applause and laughter from the crowd.