Kenya: Duale swapped to Environment from Defence ministry

NAIROBI - Kenyan President William Ruto's associate and confidant Aden Duale has been taken to the Environment ministry, in a move which caught many analysts unaware, just before the second round of vetting of Ministers in Kenya, a week after their nomination.

Ruto, who has been battling with protests in Kenya, sacked his entire cabinet, before naming 11 individuals in the first batch. Duale had been renamed Defense minister before the Head of State changed his mind, replacing him with Soipan Tuya.

This is according to a communication sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula in which President William Ruto communicated the changes.

This came as Wetang'ula was communicating to the house names of 11 cabinet secretary nominees that President William Ruto had nominated to be part of his reconstituted Cabinet. The names have been referred to the Committee on Appointments, which is expected to vet and table a report of the nominees within 28 days, the Star reports.

President Ruto named the 11 nominees on Friday last week. Speaking after the changes, Duale thanked the President for reassigning him. He added that he looks forward to serving in his new role.

"I look forward to serving in my new portfolio," Duale said.

The 11 Cabinet nominees now await vetting by the National Assembly.

After the vetting, parliament will take the names of the cabinet nominees to the whole house, which will then approve or reject the nominees. If the National Assembly approves any or all of the nominees, the Speaker will submit a report to the President.

Ruto will then gazette the appointment of the nominees to serve in the cabinet. After the gazettement, the individuals will take the oath of office as Cabinet Secretaries, a position they will serve for the remainder of Ruto's current term, the paper adds.

GAROWE ONLINE