Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has lauded President William Ruto’s sweeping reforms that have significantly eased access to identification documents for residents in Kenya’s Northeastern region. Speaking on Sunday in Wajir town during the coronation of Sultan Abdirahman Sultan Hussein, Duale said the region’s residents and the wider Muslim community fully recognise the President’s efforts and will “pay back” through the ballot in 2027.
Duale, who served as the chief guest at the historic ceremony, described the reforms as a monumental policy shift that restored dignity to communities that had long suffered under an oppressive vetting system. For decades, residents of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and other border areas endured suspicion, discrimination, endless bureaucracies, and delays when applying for crucial identification documents—experiences that made them feel like second-class citizens.
In February 2025, President Ruto signed a landmark decree abolishing vetting committees and the extra scrutiny previously imposed on residents from certain regions, ethnicities, or religious backgrounds. The directive ensured that all Kenyans could access identification documents without unnecessary hurdles.
“Your administration is the first to listen to the cries of our people and act decisively,” Duale said, addressing the President. “You brought back dignity to the people of Northeastern Kenya, the wider Muslim community, and all Kenyans.”
Duale urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing IEBC voter registration drive, stressing that a larger voter turnout would amplify the region’s political influence. He framed voter registration as a moral obligation—an opportunity for the community to express gratitude for the reforms.
The CS also defended the President against critics, arguing that the Kenya Kwanza administration is delivering transformative change through infrastructure development, affordable housing, universal healthcare, agricultural reforms, job creation, and a modernised education system.
He further encouraged residents to enrol in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), emphasising that Universal Health Coverage is both a moral duty and a strategic investment in the country’s future.
