Environment CS nominee Aden Duale has said that corruption poses a greater threat to Kenya than the Al-Shabaab terror group.
Duale was answering a question asked by vetting committee member Kimani Ichung'wa on how he plans to tackle the issue of forest land grabbing across the country should he be confirmed to assume office.
Duale indicated that corruption is at the heart of the problem of forest land grabbing in Kenya.
He explained that corruption is the greatest threat to national security and “our existence” than even Al Shabab.
"Al-Shabaab can be identified and located, corruption is the hidden menace that is devastating the country," he said.
"If today I am asked between Al-Shabaab and corruption, which is a bigger threat to Kenya, without fear of contradiction, I will say corruption because Al-Shabaab you can identify, you know the location, you know their capability but corruption is the one that is killing our country," he added.
He said it becomes a bigger challenge to deal with forest land grabbers, due to their nature to remain anonymous and far from the public eye until petitions are filed in court.
"Al-Shabaab you can identify them, you know their location and capability but corruption is killing our country," he said.
Duale further alluded that a considerable number of forest land grabbers are public officials holding senior positions in government, promising to revoke their land titles should he be confirmed as Environment CS.
"I want to categorically say that if this house approves me, in the first 30 days, working with the Lands CS and government agencies, land titles belonging to big people in government, some of them Members of Parliament, will be revoked," he said.
The nominee further stated that if appointed, he plans to consolidate all petitions related to forest land grabbing, distinguishing between genuine and non-genuine cases, before presenting his findings to the Cabinet for further action.
"If the House approves me, forestry will be my business. Grabbers of forest land will be my business irrespective of who they are or whatever status they hold in society," he said.