Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged Muslim leaders to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid, pitching a proposed “coalition of the marginalised” as a political vehicle for communities he says have been excluded from development.
Speaking on behalf of Ruto at the National Muslim Leaders Convention 2026 in Nairobi on Thursday, Duale said the administration was addressing historical inequalities and restoring the dignity of Muslim communities.
“Anybody who returns our dignity is who we want,” Duale said, arguing that the government’s approach to development and access to public services had improved the position of historically marginalised communities.
Duale said the proposed political alliance would bring together Muslims, pastoralist communities and regions he described as having been left behind in national development.
The remarks form part of his efforts to mobilise support for Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election. Duale previously outlined plans for a broader coalition bringing together communities from northern Kenya, the Coast, Nyanza and western Kenya.
At the convention, he defended the government’s record on equitable development, citing infrastructure investment and the revival of factories in western Kenya.
“Today in western Kenya, the factories are running. Kenya now is very soon going to be sugar self-sufficient and will export it,” he said.
Duale also cited the expansion of passport services, including an office in Garissa, as an example of efforts to improve access to government services.
He said Muslims, Christians and other Kenyans should receive equal treatment when applying for national identity cards and passports.
The Cabinet Secretary argued that the administration was addressing historical policies that contributed to regional inequalities, citing Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 and Africanisation.
He said the government wanted Muslims to have a greater role in national decision-making, including public appointments, resource allocation and policy implementation.
“President Ruto is committing to structurally create an equitable Kenya, where public appointments, resource allocation, national policies reflect the true diversity of our nation,” Duale said.
He also pointed to the government’s engagement with Muslim leaders on healthcare reforms, education and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, including Islamic financing models intended to broaden participation in development programmes.
The convention was convened by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and brought together Muslim leaders to discuss governance, development and the community’s engagement with public institutions.
SUPKEM has called for stronger cooperation among Muslim leaders and more structured engagement with government institutions to ensure the community’s concerns are reflected in national policies.
The convention also resolved to establish a permanent policy liaison directorate to strengthen engagement with government ministries and the National Treasury.
