Don't abandon your constituents, Duale tells MPs in last address

Defence Cabinet Secreatry nominee Aden Duale during his vetting at the County Hall in Nairobi on October 17, 2022. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale made his last speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday, October 26.

Duale's speech came shortly after he and 23 other Cabinet nominees were approved by Members of Parliament.

Duale, who has served as an MP for four consecutive terms, bade farewell to the House to take up his new role in the Executive as the Cabinet Secretary for Defence.

While making his speech, Duale called upon the lawmakers to diligently serve their constituents.

"At the end of the day, you must have dignity and honour to face your people and seek re-election," he said.

"Don't abandon your people, don't switch off your phones, don't disappear from the constituencies that elected you to help solve their problems, please do your job," added Duale.

The former Majority Leader in the National Assembly further urged the legislators to protect the Constituencies' Development Fund (CDF), saying the programme had positively changed the lives of Kenyans.

"Let's do all we can to have the CDF alive," he said.

Duale, in the address, regretted engineering the passing of laws that breached the independence of key institutions.

"Don't make laws that will hobble these institutions. I naively did that at some point, but I have since learnt how costly it is to the people of this country and even to Parliament," he said.

He has promised to work with all MPs in realising his Defence docket goals.

"If anyone wants my help, don't hesitate to visit my office. I will make time for you. You won't wait until you become too frequent and, [as a result], make it difficult for me to do my job," he said.

Other legislators, who were nominated to the Cabinet, and have since made their final addresses in Parliament after approval, are Kandara MP Alice Wahome (Water) and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport).