Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday explained why he was a no-show at the devolution conference which started on Wednesday in Uasin Gishu County.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Duale said his main focus is to protect the country from the al Shabaab terrorists.
"I should not be in this job if we will not succeed in the war against Al Shabaab. We will succeed," Duale said.
"I have no other job, I have no business that's why you don't see me in the devolution conference."
He assured Kenyans and visitors that they will not lose their lives and properties because of terror, under his watch.
"As the Minister for Defence, we have the capability to deter, to protect our people."
"We have not reached where we want but our goal is to make sure we keep peace not only in Kenya but deal with al Shabaab and all terror networks inside Somalia," he said.
The defence minister reiterated that President William Ruto's administration is committed to flushing out bandits and al Shabaab from the country.
"We have a committed government and our partners in the war against terror attack. Kenya must be free from al Shabaab," he said.
Duale said by December, the armed forces will have very protected modernized equipment to help them deal with terrorist groups.
He said the Ministry of Defence is enhancing the capability of the Kenya Defense Forces to acquire modern and sophisticated weapons to enable them to combat the ever-changing security threat.
