Duale: I'll go herd my camels when Ruto's tenure as president ends

Defence Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale says he misses Parliament and plans to retire from public office with President William Ruto in 2032, if he wins a second term.

"Of course, I will not pretend. I miss politics and being in Parliament. It is only in the chambers that you spend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday defending issues that have an impact on Kenyans.

"It is the only place under the sun where you can speak freely, defend the Constitution and several laws openly, and where you can push for Article 10 of the Constitution on National Values and principles of Governance without fear or favour, " he says.

Duale, a key ally of the president, notes that after 15 years as a ranking member in the National Assembly where he served as the pioneer Majority Leader for eight years, and possbily another 10 years Cabinet, he deserves to retire to his farm in Garissa.

"After President Ruto ends his second term, I will retire with him and change to a kikoi and shawl and go herd my camels and goats. After serving in a government where the most powerful man is also your friend, what else would I need to come back and do?" poses Duale.

In an exclusive interview with The Saturday Standard during which he addressed a wide range of issues, he said his transition from Parliament was smooth but he remembers with a lot of nostalgia his time in the House because of the lively debates he said he championed for Kenyans.

"It is in Parliament that you get to defend and champion issues for Kenyans, you speak your mind and your heart, you get the opportunity to stand for the down trodden. I still miss those moments," said the former Garissa Town MP.

Sitting at the helm of the country's defence docket where he makes policy statements for the safety of the nation, the CS says he will spend Christmas in Kismayu with Kenyan soldiers there.

He is happy that Kenya has a president he says has the presence of mind, energy, charisma and stamina to transform the country.

Duale rates Ruto's performance highly saying:

"If Kenya does not transform under President William Ruto, then it will never. The President has the presence of mind, energy, charisma, dedication, and the will to change the country. Kenyans need to be a bit patient.

In the first year, Ruto has implemented the foundation of his transformation through budget allocations, deliberate legislative agenda, and decisions and he is a direct supervisor himself."

Duale hopes to leave the Defence ministry better than he found it.

"My vision is to ensure national security through maintaining a professional military that boasts of work ethics, public trust, values, and culture that befits an internationally recognised military force.