Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has continued his criticism of the Mt Kenya region despite public uproar over a tribal slur in which he reportedly referred to residents as hyenas.
Speaking in Garissa at the start of a week-long devolution sensitisation event, CS Duale said the law does not bar him from engaging in politics while serving as a Cabinet minister.
While praising the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, Mr Duale said he played a critical role in championing equity among Kenyans.
“We stood and said we must get devolved. Why? Because the whole of Kenya was being run through one street, from the National Treasury to the Office of the President. That is where resources were shared and decisions were made,” he said.
Mr Duale maintained that some leaders from the Mt Kenya region were “jealous” of the development projects initiated by the Kenya Kwanza administration in Northern Kenya.
“When President Ruto abolished vetting for the issuance of national identification cards, they said we had allowed refugees to register as voters. That was an insult to us,” he said.
The CS said residents of Northern Kenya had become more politically aware and wiser than before, adding that he would continue engaging in politics because no law bars him from doing so as a minister.
“I will be appearing in the office from Monday to Thursday, but from Friday to Sunday I will drum up support for President Ruto. Yule hataki akuende kabisa,” he said.
He vowed to campaign for President Ruto’s re-election even without the support of the Mt Kenya bloc.
“I have been in politics long enough, and there is nothing those people can do to stop me,” he said.
Mr Duale also blamed “the same group of people” for opposing the adoption of a parliamentary system of government during the Constitution-making process.
“Those who have the tyranny of numbers opposed the parliamentary system, and before I die, I hope we will revert to this system of government,” he said.
He further argued that the tallying of votes should be devolved from the national tallying centre to constituencies, saying similar systems exist in countries such as India, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom.
Mr Duale said the Coast and Northern Kenya regions would soon catch up in population numbers, urging residents to have larger families.
“We are determined to reproduce so that we can reach your numbers and vote for a parliamentary system where anybody can become the President of Kenya,” he said.
