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That's reckless of you! Duale tells Raila over secession calls

"I did not know you can go that low."

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by SHARON MWENDE

News27 May 2023 - 15:31
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In Summary


  • • He said the cost of unga, which the ODM leader largely anchored his calls for mass action resulting in the now shaky bipartisan talks, has come down.
  • • "Now you want to convince us that your problems will be solved by dividing the nation called Kenya," the former Majority Leader said.
Defence CS Aden Duale speaking during the first Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities (CGIMA) at the International Peace Support Training Centre in Karen, Nairobi on May 24, 2023.

Defence CS Aden Duale has condemned Azimio co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka over their calls for self determination.

The process entails determination of statehood and formation of own government by the people.

Speaking on Saturday during the official launch of Masalani municipality in Garissa County, Duale said it was irresponsible for leaders of the duo's caliber to make such threats.

"Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, it is very reckless for leaders of your statue to stand on a podium and call for the secession and division of our country. It is very unfortunate. I did not know you can go that low," the CS said.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Yatta Farm on Friday, Raila said he was going to write to the United Nation to separate from the Ruto-led State.

He gave President William Ruto a week's ultimatum to reverse what he termed as tribal state appointments or the ODM leader will write the letter. 

"We will write to UN for self-determination so that every Kenyan community can feel completely they are part of the government," Raila said.

The former Prime Minister said it was unfair for appointments to public institutions to be given to one tribe. 

"If you read Kenya gazette every week, it's only one region. Kenya has 45 communities, all of them are Kenyans and they are paying taxes," he said.

Duale said Raila has resorted to desperate measures on seeing that most of his demands that informed formation of bipartisan talks including the lowering of the cost of living have been met.

He said the cost of unga, which the ODM leader largely anchored his calls for mass action resulting in the now shaky bipartisan talks, has come down.

"He spoke about servers and was told IEBC commissioners are not there. Everything has been hard so now he thinks he can threaten us that Kenya should be divided.

"The Constitution Article One and the Preamble talks about a unitary state called Kenya with 47 county units. Mr Odinga, please go back to the Preamble of the Constitution," he said.

The Preamble is the pride of Kenyans and it states, "We, the people of Kenya: Proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation."

Duale said the secession calls are reminiscent of Raila's hunger for power demonstrated after the disputed 2017 presidential polls when he swore himself in as the People's President.

"Now you want to convince us that your problems will be solved by dividing the nation called Kenya," the former Majority Leader said.

Raila issued demands to the Kenya Kwanza government including lowering the cost of living, non-interference of opposition parties by government, preservation of the Election servers and suspension of IEBC reconstitution.

With the bipartisan talks hanging in the balance after the Azimio side withdrew from the process citing noncommittal to accept the demands on interim basis, all indications are that Raila may resort back to mass protests.

He said he will hold a parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday to give the way forward if after the lapse of a seven-day ultimatum for the Kenya Kwanza side to cede ground will not have borne fruits.

"Because of your selfish interest, how hungry you are for power, you can even allow many people to die for you to be announced the president," Duale said.

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