Tame Duale or else!, Senator Haji tells Ruto
“Please take our message to the President, that we will not fully join the UDA party, until Duale is disciplined and controlled. We will join other parties, including the one led by Junet, and you can see I invited him to this event” Haji said.
By Adieri Mulaa
A fresh political storm is brewing in Garissa County after a gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji, warned that continued political animosity involving Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale could complicate President William Ruto’s efforts to consolidate support in the region.
Senator Haji says he and his supporters are not ready to embrace UDA party, unless the president reins in Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, claiming he was a stumbling block to politicians in the North Eastern region.
He is accusing Duale of creating divisions and meddling in Garissa County politics, at a time when leaders in the region should be mobilising support for President Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking at a fundraising event for Madarasatul Jamciyatu Al-Fallah in Nairobi on Saturday, September 19, 2026, where Sh63 million was raised, Haji said he and his allies were unable to campaign for the president, because they have been compelled to concentrate on endless local political battles.
“People are asking us when we will start campaigning for the President, yet this man continues to create divisions amongst us. There is so much political interference by this troublemaker who has kept use busy on the ground”, he pointed out.
Senator Haji was speaking in the presence of UDA Secretary General, Hassan Omar Hassan, ODM national chairperson, Governor Gladys Wanga and the party Leader of Minority in the National Assembly, Junet Mohamed .
Haji used the occasion to send a direct message to the President Ruto, through Omar Hassan, saying UDA should not expect to his support in Garissa County, unless the party addressed his concerns over Duale’s divisive political activities.
“Please take our message to the President, that we will not fully join the UDA party, until Duale is disciplined and controlled. We will join other parties, including the one led by Junet, and you can see I invited him to this event” he said.
Haji made the remarks in the presence of other senior ODM politicians in the region, including Garissa Governor Nathif Jama and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG).
Senator Haji emphatically told the ODM leaders to be prepared to receive him and his supporters, should his political relationship with UDA break down.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, President Ruto’s key ally in the broad-based government, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja were also among the guests present at the event.
This latest confrontation is the culmination of an increasingly public political rivalry between Senator Haji and CS Duale. The two have exchanged sharp remarks at political gatherings in Garissa County in recent months.
Duale has publicly indicated that he will not support Haji’s bid for the Garissa governorship.
In turn, Haji has accused the Cabinet Secretary of undermining his efforts to build a broad political coalition involving influential clans in the county. Their rivalry is unfolding against the backdrop of a crowded race for the Garissa governorship.
Among those positioning themselves for the seat are former governor Ali Korane, former Ijara MP Ibrahim Abass, the out-going Water Resources Authority (WRA) chief executive officer, Eng. Mohamed Shuriye, former envoys Mohamed Shidiye and Abdiqani Dubat, as well as Senator Haji.
Haji has been seeking to consolidate support across the county, has reached a firm political understanding with leaders associated with the Aulihan clan, which commands a significant voting bloc.
He comes from the Samawathal clan, which also has a sizeable presence in Garissa County. However, it remains to be seen, which aspirant Duale will back in the gubernatorial contest scheduled for August next year.
However, his political influence in Garissa makes his eventual position a closely watched factor by political observers, and the aspirants, as various camps seek to build alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
Haji’s warning has opened a new front in the political contest, with the Garissa gubernatorial race increasingly intersecting with the wider battle over President Ruto’s support base in North Eastern Kenya.
