Former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa has hit back at Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale after he questioned her ability to read and understand Cabinet papers during their time in government.
Jumwa accused Duale of hypocrisy and dismissed his remarks as a political attempt to demean her, insisting that she was fully capable of understanding Cabinet business.
“I sat with you at the Cabinet, and there was no day you talked to me save for one day,” Jumwa claimed.
Jumwa Recalls Cabinet Clash With Duale
Jumwa recalled an incident involving a former governor, claiming Duale confronted her after she accompanied the county boss to meet President William Ruto.
She said she took the former governor to see Ruto one evening, only for Duale to confront her angrily during the following day’s Cabinet meeting.
“I took him (ex-governor) to the President in the evening, and the following day we had a Cabinet sitting, and that day you talked to me with a lot of anger and pain, asking me why I took the governor to Ruto,” she claimed.
Jumwa further alleged that Duale insulted her during the exchange and dismissed her attempts to explain the circumstances surrounding the meeting.
“You insulted me, and when I wanted to explain myself, you dismissed me,” she said.
Duale Claims He Helped Jumwa Understand Cabinet Papers
Jumwa’s remarks came after Duale launched a fresh attack against his former Cabinet colleague while speaking in Mombasa on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Duale claimed that he sat next to Jumwa in Cabinet and would sometimes assist her in reading and explaining Cabinet papers.
He further alleged that Jumwa occasionally struggled to explain issues contained in Cabinet documents, prompting him to intervene.
Duale made the remarks while criticising Jumwa’s association with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He questioned her decision to work with Kalonzo, whom he described as a former vice president, while also urging Mombasa residents to register as voters and participate in the 2027 General Election.
Jumwa Warns Duale Over Coast Politics
Jumwa, however, warned Duale against attempting to dictate the political direction of the Coast region.
She maintained that the region has its own leaders capable of making political decisions and would not accept instructions on which political side to support.
“You will not direct the Coast region on where to vote. The Coast has its leaders. If you think Coast has no leader, I am there for them,” she said.
The exchange adds to the growing political rivalry among former and current members of the Kenya Kwanza administration as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
