We Have The Numbers, Ruto Will Win Second Term With a Landslide, Duale Says

Health CS Aden Duale expresses confidence in President’s second term prospects amid rising political tensions

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has made bold predictions about President William Ruto’s political future, declaring that the Kenya Kwanza administration has the numbers to secure a landslide victory in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a prime-time interview on a local television show on Wednesday evening, Duale expressed unwavering confidence in the President’s re-election prospects, stating categorically that Ruto’s second term is “guaranteed.”

“William Ruto will come back with a landslide… inshallah, his second term is guaranteed,” the Health CS declared.

“He will be voted, not because of anything else, but because he will deliver on his promises.”

The timing of Duale’s remarks is particularly significant, coming amid escalating political tensions between President Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

The former DP has publicly broken ranks with his former boss, accusing the administration of marginalizing the Mount Kenya region and vowing to challenge Ruto at the ballot in 2027.

What makes Duale’s confidence particularly intriguing is his emphasis on demographic numbers, specifically referencing the upcoming national census.

The Health CS revealed that leaders from North Eastern Kenya have been mobilizing their communities to declare accurate population figures during the census exercise.

“Our numbers in the census—if you go and ask someone, ‘How many children do you have?’ they will answer you, ‘Is that your business?’ But we have now told them, for the census, they must say. Because we have to have enough voters to bring back William Ruto,” Duale explained.

This strategic approach to voter registration and census participation takes on added significance given recent legal developments.

In January 2025, the High Court cancelled the 2019 census results for Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties due to significant irregularities, with Justice John Onyiego ruling that the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics had failed to maintain fundamental data integrity standards.

President William Ruto.

The political landscape ahead of 2027 is already taking shape, with various camps positioning themselves for the contest.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei recently predicted potential challengers including Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, while notably ruling out Gachagua due to his impeachment.

Duale’s statements also come against the backdrop of recent protests and political unrest, with President Ruto alleging that opposition forces are plotting to overthrow his government.

Gachagua has dismissed these claims, insisting that the opposition’s goal is constitutional change through the ballot box.

The Health CS’s dual role as both a cabinet secretary and political strategist has drawn criticism from some quarters, with observers questioning whether serving ministers should engage in such overt political campaigning.

One online commentator noted that “CS should not be politicians” and that Duale appears to be “dubbing up as CS and a politician at the same time.”

As Kenya approaches the 2027 elections, Duale’s pronouncements signal that the ruling coalition is already in campaign mode, banking on demographic advantages and development records to secure victory.

However, with political alliances shifting and economic challenges mounting, the landscape remains fluid.

The question now is whether the Kenya Kwanza administration can deliver on its promises and maintain the coalition that brought it to power, or whether the opposition can capitalize on growing discontent to mount a credible challenge.

What remains clear is that both sides are preparing for what promises to be a hotly contested election cycle.