Aden Duale, the Environment Cabinet Secretary nominee, firmly dismissed claims that high-ranking military officers feared him during his tenure as the Defence Cabinet Secretary. Duale, who served in the Defence ministry for 21 months before President William Ruto’s cabinet dissolution, emphasized that any perceived fear stemmed from his stern leadership style rather than his persona.
Duale was initially re-nominated to the Defence docket but was later moved to the Environment docket in a surprising swap with Soipan Tuya. Addressing the Committee on Appointments, Duale vowed to bring his disciplined and patriotic approach to the Environment ministry if confirmed.
“I don’t think the rank and file and the leadership of the Defence ministry fear me, maybe my style, and I will take the same style to the forest,” Duale stated. “I will carry the discipline, orders, patriotism, and respect they give to each other and teamwork.”
During his vetting, Duale clarified that his role in the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) during the June 25, 2024, anti-government protests was constitutionally mandated. Responding to concerns raised by Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, Duale explained that the deployment was necessitated by the overwhelming situation faced by the police, citing Article 241 3(c) of the Constitution.
“Why did I deploy KDF? I did not deploy KDF; the framers of the Constitution put Article 241 3(b) and 3(c) in the Constitution,” Duale explained. “For peace, public order, and safety, where the police are overwhelmed, Article 241 3(b) kicks in.”
Duale defended the decision, stating that the military’s intervention was crucial in protecting key institutions such as Parliament and the Supreme Court during the protests. He highlighted the potential dangers that lawmakers and the parliamentary building faced during the unrest.
Reflecting on the handling of military assets, Duale asserted that only the President and First Lady are permitted to use military choppers, addressing concerns about the misuse of such resources.
Turning his attention to environmental issues, Duale called for a proper financing model for COP events, criticizing the lack of financial support despite significant pledges. He promised to adopt stringent measures to protect forest lands, including revoking title deeds from influential individuals within the first 30 days of his tenure if approved.
“The conference is supposed to be dealing with adaptation of a new collective goal for climate financing but it has been a talk show, from COP15 to COP28. This time we must adopt a proper financing model,” Duale emphasized.
During the vetting, Duale also disclosed his net worth, declaring it to be Ksh.980 million, a notable increase from the Ksh.851 million he declared in September 2022. His assets include parcels of land, a cattle ranch, rental properties, and shares in family-owned businesses.
“My livestock have also grown in number because of the recent rains,” Duale added, attributing part of his financial growth to the appreciation of his investments and real estate properties.
