The Cabinet Secretary for Health presided over a proud graduation in Garissa, championing Islamic education and free maternity care but it was his sharp warning over a wave of youth stabbings terrorizing residents that dominated the room.
Asal Post Garissa, Kenya June 2026 ● Garissa | Education & Security .
Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale arrived at Saka Madrassa’s graduation ceremony with a full agenda and left having spoken to every one of them. Before a gathering of graduates, parents, religious scholars, community elders, and local leaders, he moved from faith to security to healthcare in a speech that reflected the many pressures weighing on Garissa County.
The ceremony itself was a moment of genuine celebration. Students demonstrated exceptional command of Islamic studies Quranic recitation and interpretation, Hadith, and Ahlaq, the ethics at the heart of Islamic character. For families who have invested years in their children’s religious education, it was a day of pride.
Faith as Foundation
CS Duale did not shy away from the core message of the occasion. Religious education, he told the gathering, is not a supplement to learning it is its bedrock.
“Religious education is not merely supplementary but essential in molding character, strengthening family values, and building cohesive communities.”
— CS Aden Duale, Saka Madrassa Graduation Ceremony
He called on parents to make Islamic learning a priority, and pointed to President William Ruto’s recent Madaraka Day address as evidence that the government is moving to mainstream madrassa teachers within Kenya’s broader national education framework — a signal, he suggested, of long-overdue recognition for institutions like Saka.
A Security Warning from the Stage
The tone shifted when Duale turned to security. A series of stabbing attacks by a group of youths in Garissa Town has been alarming residents in recent weeks, and the CS made clear he had come to Garissa not only to celebrate but to confront the issue directly.
“I urge law enforcement agencies to move swiftly and ensure those involved are arrested and prosecuted. The safety and security of residents must remain a top priority.”
— CS Aden Duale
The call for decisive action drew attention in a county where security concerns have long complicated daily life. That a Cabinet Secretary chose to raise it publicly at a graduation, before hundreds of residents underlined the seriousness with which the incidents are being viewed at the national level.
Free Maternity Care: A Reminder for Garissa’s Mothers
Wearing his Health portfolio equally, Duale used the platform to reinforce a government commitment that he said too many Garissa families are not yet taking advantage of. Maternity services, he reminded those gathered, are fully covered for Social Health Authority (SHA)-registered Kenyans at all Level 2 and Level 3 facilities across the country.
Garissa, he noted, remains among the counties with the most serious maternal and newborn health challenges in Kenya. The solution skilled birth attendance at a registered facility is available and free. He urged expectant mothers and their families to use it.
A Full House, a Full Agenda
The graduation was attended by Garissa County Woman Representative Hon. Ummulkheir Harun, several Members of the County Assembly, religious scholars, and hundreds of residents. Their presence reflected the standing Saka Madrassa holds in the community and the appetite in Garissa for leaders who show up, speak plainly, and stay for the conversation.
CS Duale’s visit, part of a wider development tour of the county, covered much ground in a single afternoon. Whether the security agencies he addressed will act with the urgency he demanded remains to be seen.
