In a rare change of heart, President William Ruto has nominated Ms Soipan Tuya as Cabinet Secretary for Defence in place of Mr Aden Duale, who will now be vetted for the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket.
This was contained in President Ruto’s note to Parliament seeking the approval of the House.
While naming his half cabinet on Friday, President Ruto nominated Mr Duale as CS for Defence while Ms Tuya was tapped to head the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
“I hereby refer the message from the President to the committee on appointments together with the Curriculum Vitae of the nominees to the committee on appointments,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula informed the House.
The announcement, which took the House by surprise, prompted lawmakers to shout at the Speaker to report.
“We are really in doubt if this is the real information. I want to tell my colleagues that this time, vetting of these nominees will not be business as usual, this time if someone is not suitable and does not have the capacity, we are going to throw him out Mr Speaker,” Mr Junet Mohamed, the Minority Whip said.
Tiaty MP William Kamket said “While what you have read is contradictory to what we heard the President announce, I would like you to confirm that what you have read is what was communicated by the President. While the bar must be raised high for anyone appointed at the CS level, we can’t expect the President to appoint angels in the Cabinet. Mr Mohamed should not threaten the career of others,” Mr Kamket said.
Mr Duale took to his social media X account and said he was grateful for the reassignment.
“I look forward to serving in my new portfolio and ensuring the focus is on sustainable environment management, combating climate change and promoting re-afforestation conservation with efforts,” Mr Duale said.