Duale reflects on highs and lows as Cabinet Secretary

Environment CS Aden Duale. [File, Standard] What is your general reflection on how last year was in your position as a Cabinet Secretary? It was a mixed year. Collectively as a country and government, we have been through difficult moments. At the same time, we have made significant progress towards returning Kenya on the path of economic progress and transformation. I started the year as Cabinet Secretary for Defence and I am ending it in the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket. In both dockets, we scored a number of notable successes. That is from being in charge of human to climate security. You are currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Environment and Forestry. What do you consider as your major achievement? I have been in this role for barely six months and as you may know, government work is a rolling stone that keeps grinding irrespective of who is in the driving seat. Therefore, most of the initiatives we are driving forward were started by my predecessors. However, I would list completion of various carbon markets and extended producer responsibility regulations, acceleration of tree growing activities (over 700 million seedlings grown), suspension of the export of raw veneer and ongoing mop-up of asbestos as some of the stand-out achievements locally, passage into law of carbon market regulation and seven environmental regulations on waste management, air, water, noise pollution among others. On the multilateral platform, I successfully led the Kenyan delegations at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan and recently at the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As Kenya, we are particularly happy that Article 6 of the Paris Agreement was approved in Baku. We are keen on leveraging this milestone to accelerate the development of our nascent carbon markets as an important climate finance stream. You previously served as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Defence. What do you consider as your achievement? Unlike other ministries of government, the Defence docket is a highly regimental function with long established routines and traditions. However, during my tenure at Ulinzi House, we elevated the involvement of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in climate action. We made KDF one of the leading drivers of the government's 15 billion National Tree Growing Programme through an aggressive seedling propagation and tree planting exercises across KDF camps countrywide and in designated degraded ecosystems. We also intensified 'Operation Maliza Uhalifu' in the North Rift, an exercise that has pacified the hitherto disturbed region. Sadly, we lost our then Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla in the operation. On the global stage, we successfully negotiated and signed the Kenya-US Defense Agreement in September 2023. . What went through your mind during the period in which the Cabinet was dissolved following the Generation Z protests? Just like most Kenyans, the period leading to the dissolution of the Cabinet by President Ruto was highly unsettling, especially on June 25.The events of that dark period tested Kenya's resilience as a democratic country. I am glad we emerged from it as one united country, ready to forge forward into a future of great prosperity. We must thank the President for ensuring that we did not lose our country. As Head of State and Government, President Ruto exercised great restraint, steadfastness and magnanimity that have seen Kenya emerge from the mayhem a better country. You have served in two ministries since the current government came to power. What have you learnt from this? First, as a Cabinet Secretary, I swore to serve my country in any docket as assigned by the appointing authority. I am therefore always ready and available to the President to assign me to whatever docket he deems fit for my profile. Secondly, I am glad and forever grateful for the period I served in the Defense docket because of the invaluable lessons that have made me a better public servant and person. At the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, I am learning new things every day and becoming better at them progressively. Across both dockets, my long service as a legislator and Kenya's first Leader of Majority in the National Assembly under the new Constitution has helped a great deal. My deeper understanding of the legislative process and the laws governing the sector, having been part of their formulation and passage, has helped accelerate ongoing policy reforms. What do you feel you could have done better in the previous ministry that you were not able to do? Nothing really. I gave my all as Cabinet Secretary for Defence. I am doing the same in the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket. I am not the type that waits for second chances. I always grab the bull by the horns and do what is expected of me. What will you like to do after serving the country as a Cabinet Secretary? Being a politician of many years, it is difficult to tell what the future holds, retire to my camel farm, write another book on the role of the legislature and impeachment. As they say, time will tell. How can you compare your work as a Cabinet Secretary and the time you served as the National Assembly Majority Leader? The two roles are complimentary. As a lawmaker I made laws and provided oversight, today as a Cabinet Secretary I oversee the implementation of Government programmes, anchored by some of the laws I helped formulate. Did you expect to make a comeback after the Cabinet was reconstituted? In life and more so in politics, nothing is guaranteed. I thank President Ruto for the opportunity to serve in his second Cabinet. It is a huge vote of confidence in my abilities and I promise not to let him down. Do you have any regrets as far as your performance as a Cabinet Secretary is concerned? None whatsoever. As I have mentioned earlier, I leave no room for regrets or second chances in my life. I give my utmost best at all times. You are a close ally of President William Ruto. How can you describe your relationship? The President and I come a long way. We have a great working relationship. Most importantly, the President is my boss, friend and political leader. Which was the lowest moment for you last year? The death of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and nine other military officers following a plane crash while they were touring an operation area was my lowest moment that year.

Duale reflects on highs and lows as Cabinet Secretary

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