Health CS Aden Duale speaking in Mombasa./STEPHEN ASTARIKOHealth Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has claimed that President William Ruto has already secured significant support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Citing the backing from pastoralist and Muslim-dominated counties, as well as parts of the Rift Valley and Western regions.
Speaking in Mombasa while addressing members of the Somali community, where he was the chief guest, Duale said the political landscape was already taking shape ahead of the next presidential contest.
He claimed Ruto had a substantial geographical base even before campaigns enter their decisive phase.
“President Ruto is already sure of getting the 25 per cent requirement from the pastoralist and Muslim-dominated counties, Mombasa included. And when you add the seven in Rift Valley and Western counties, President Ruto has already 45 counties,” Duale said.
Under Article 138 of the Constitution, a presidential candidate must secure more than half of all votes cast nationally and at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of more than half of the counties. With 47 counties, the 25 per cent threshold therefore applies to at least 24 counties.
Duale’s remarks appeared to be aimed at highlighting the geographical spread he believes Ruto can draw support from in 2027.
The CS also challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s repeated references to the numerical strength of the Central Kenya vote bloc, including his claim that the region has more than eight million voters.
Duale said the 2022 presidential election results did not support treating Central Kenya as an eight-million-vote bloc aligned to one political camp.
“Rigathi Gachagua, who keeps boasting that he has eight million. Let me debunk the eight million,” Duale said.
He argued that voting patterns in the 2022 presidential election showed that support in the region was divided.
“The Central region gave Ruto three million votes and Raila Odinga one million, then add other Kenyans who reside in the region. Your votes are three million. So that fallacy of eight million is what you need to tell us where you are getting it from,” he said.
Duale urged politicians to base their electoral calculations on official voter registration and election data rather than broad claims about regional populations.
“Your population in Kenya is 11 per cent. So you better know that we are smarter. We have the figures. At night we do the maths, we use the IEBC register, and we compare, and we are telling our people the truth,” he said.
The Health CS also questioned the geographical reach of other opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We have the figures. At night we do the maths, we use the IEBC register, and we compare. Sifuna only has Bungoma County, while Kalonzo only has three counties,” Duale said, referring to Kitui, Makueni and Machakos.
His remarks come amid heightened political activity and realignments as parties and political leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Health CS Aden Duale addressing members of the Somali Community residing in Mombasa./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
