Surprise as Duale-Tuya swapped and Miano left out

Former Defence CS Aden Duale who had been re-appointed in the same docket now moves to the Environment Ministry while Soipan Tuya replaces him at DoD. [File, Standard]

President William Ruto has dropped controversial Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale from the Ministry of Defence.

In a communication that caught many legislators by surprise yesterday, the President reassigned him to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry without giving explanations.

Soipan Tuya will now be vetted for the Defence docket.

Interestingly, in his memorandum read out by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, Ruto only forwarded a list of 10 names to the House, leaving out the nominee for the position of Attorney General, Rebecca Miano. This is despite the President having nominated 11 members of his Cabinet last week in a move he explained was aimed at giving room for some horsetrading before he fully constituted what he called a broad based government.

President Ruto’s decision to leave Miano’s name from the vetting list has raised questions.

Miano, a corporate lawyer, was nominated following the axing of Justin Muturi. Seven individuals have gone to court challenging his sacking.

Wetang'ula further set the timelines for the vetting stating: “The committee to which such nominations are referred shall consider the matter and table a report in the House within 28 days.”

Tongues started wagging shortly after Duale’s nomination to the Defence docket, after Somalia’s Ministry of Defence congratulated him.

“MoD extends congratulations to Hon Duale on his re-appointment as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence. KDF is a valued partner in our joint fight against terrorism. We look forward to strengthening the longstanding ties between the two nations,” the Ministry wrote on X.

Reacting to the message, lawyer Donald Kipkorir sought to understand Duale’s involvement with Somalia and posed: “When Duale was re-appointed Minister for Defence, Somalia Minister for Defence tweeted congratulations immediately! Today, Duale was re-assinged to the Ministry of Environment, Somalia Minister for Environment has tweeted congratulations! What do they want with our Duale?”

Duale reacted to his new assignment by quoting Quran 2:216.  "Indeed, 'And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, but you do not know'. "

"I look forward to serving in my new portfolio and ensuring the focus is on sustainable environmental management, combating climate change, and promoting reforestation and conservation efforts."

Back in Parliament, Seme MP Moses Nyikal cautioned that the Head of State's move  could see the public lose faith in the vetting process.  

“What the President announced is definitely different from what you (Speaker) have read to us. At that point alone, the public will not really have confidence in what we are doing. Unless the President probably came and made the changes,” he said.

Wetang'ula, however, played the matter down. “The President has the right to change his mind at any time. What is critical is the record that comes before this House in form of a memorandum.”

National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed also acknowledged the changes, but warned of a thorough vetting exercise.

“This time and this period in Parliament, I want to tell members that vetting of these CSs is not going to be business as usual. This time, if somebody is not suitable, if somebody is not capable, if somebody does not have the capacity, we are going to throw them out,” he said.

In reference to the five Cabinet secretaries who had been re-nominated, the Suna East MP vowed to ensure that they fully accounted for their net worth failure to which they would be exposed.They are Duale, Tuya, Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Davis Chirchir (Roads) and Alice Wahome (Lands).  

William Kamket (Tiaty) defended the nominees, noting that they should not be threatened given that nobody is an angel.

Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town) criticised the President for not including a nominee from the Luo Nyanza.

“Last week, we met as ODM and resolved to be in government… The law also stipulates that the Public service must have the face of Kenya. All the ethnic communities should be there. As a person from an ethnic community I will not agree to a position where people say that everybody is in the government of Kenya except Luos yet they also pay tax,” said Kaluma.

“I therefore want to congratulate the President for the appointments but request him that within the week as soon as tomorrow (today), we want to see those other appointments that Baba (Raila) was to forward to him. We cannot leave anybody out.”