Stop advancing sectarian and tribal politics, Duale tells leaders

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has hit out at a section of leaders whom he accused of advancing what he termed as advancing and perpetuating sectarian and tribal politics.

Duale who did not mention any leader by name, said that leaders "have a choice to leave government and spearhead the interests of your community or you have a choice to live by the oath of office you have taken".

“If you are a CS like me, a principal secretary or a CEO and you have taken an oath of office on behalf of the people of Kenya regardless of their tribe, religion or where they come from, you must abide by it,” he said.

Duale was speaking in Bula Medina in Garissa township constituency when he launched the new building of Markaz al_rashidat for Islamic education.

“Even me as the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, I come from Garissa, but the oath of office that I have taken as a Cabinet Secretary for the Republic of Kenya and that is the privilege that I have," Duale added.

The CS said all elected leaders, just like the President, have an obligation to serve the whole country regardless of whether they voted for them or not.

He said the same standards should apply to appointed leaders in constitutional offices who must at all times serve the interests of the people of Kenya. 

"You cannot take an oath of office as the President, as the Deputy President, as the CS like me, as a PS, as a head of a security agent like the IG, the DG-NIS, the Chief of Defence Forces and then use your office to perpetuate and propagate sectarian and tribal interest," Duale said.

Duale's remarks come at a time Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has in recent days been under accusation from a section of leaders including from his Mt Kenya backyard for allegedly advancing regional politics.

The DP in response said he was unapologetic when it comes to protecting the interests of his Mt Kenya people because of the love he has for them.

Gachagua, however, clarified that his love for the Mt Kenya region should not be construed to mean that he has a problem with other regions.

"I'm guilty as charged, I have no defence, that I love my people, care for them and think about them then I'm guilty as charged," he said.

"It does not mean that because I love my people, I have a problem with the other people."

The DP further defended his affinity for speaking in his native language whenever he's in Mt Kenya as it's home to people who understand the language.

"The rest of Kenyans are all our friends, they are my people who I agree with, we talk the same language and understand each other," he added.

His stance to back the one-man one-shilling revenue sharing formula has also put the DP at logger heads with a section of leaders especially those from North Eastern.

The latest move by some 48 MPs from Mt Kenya to vouch for Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as the region's spokesperson and leader have further complicated things for the DP.