Duale rallies Muslims behind Ruto, calls for ‘coalition of the marginalised’

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for the formation of a 'coalition of the marginalised' bringing together Muslim leaders and historically marginalised communities to support President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking on behalf of the President at the National Muslim Leaders Convention 2026 in Nairobi, Duale said the Ruto administration was addressing historical injustices through policies aimed at improving representation, resource allocation and economic development.

Duale argued that the government was correcting historical policy decisions that he said had disadvantaged some regions and communities, citing developments in Western Kenya, including the revival of sugar factories and plans to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production.

“William Ruto is trying to correct all those historical policy decisions, from Sessional Paper No. 10 to Africanisation to cash crops. Today, in Western Kenya, the factories are running. Kenya is very soon going to be sugar self-sufficient, and we will export it for the first time,” Duale said.

He also cited improvements in infrastructure, including roads and energy, as part of the government's development agenda, arguing that efforts to address historical policies had contributed to growing opposition against the President.

“His returning our dignity is where Ruto is becoming unpopular,” Duale noted.

The Cabinet Secretary further maintained that the administration was committed to creating a more equitable country by ensuring that public appointments, resource allocation and national policies reflected Kenya's diversity.

“President Ruto is committing to structurally create an equitable Kenya where public appointments, resource allocation and national policies reflect the true diversity of our nation to ensure that the Muslim community permanently moves from the margins to the centre of state planning and execution."

Duale said the government wanted Muslim communities and other groups that had historically faced marginalisation to play a greater role in national decision-making.

“Huko mbele, President William Ruto, Waislamu pamoja na wale wamekuwa marginalised, he wants us to come to the centre and make decisions. Kenya is a great country for the Muslim community. We're the only country where, in Africa and the world, our rights are enshrined in the Constitution,” he stated. 

He also highlighted government initiatives intended to expand the participation of Muslims in national development, including the removal of discriminatory vetting requirements for applicants seeking national identity cards and passports, as well as the adoption of Islamic financing models in housing and enterprise programmes.

Duale said these measures were intended to address longstanding grievances and enable Muslims who avoid interest-based financing to participate more fully in economic opportunities.

He called on communities from Nyanza, Western Kenya and the Coast, as well as pastoralist groups and Muslims, to unite under a common political platform.

“Tuungane Nyanza, Western, Coast, wafugaji, Waislamu wote; tuungane tujiite the coalition of the marginalised, and we support Mr Ruto,” Duale said.

The convention was convened by the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM) and brought together Muslim leaders to discuss issues affecting the community and its place in national development.