Aden Duale: Corruption is a bigger threat to Kenya than Al-Shabaab

Environment Cabinet Secretary nominee Aden Duale has opined that corruption poses a greater challenge to Kenya's development agenda than the threat of the Al-Shabaab terror group.

Duale made the remarks on Friday when he appeared before Parliament's Committee on Appointments for vetting, in response to a question posed by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wa.

Ichung'wah had tasked Duale, the immediate former Defence CS, to explain how he intends to tackle the issue of forest land grabbing across the country should he be confirmed into the ministerial position by the lower House of Parliament.

Referencing his previous stint at the Defence ministry, Duale intimated that corruption is central to the issue of forest land grabbing in Kenya.

"During the last two years I was at the Ministry of Defence and had the privilege to serve as a member of the National Security Council," he said.

"If I were asked whether Al-Shabaab or corruption poses a greater threat to Kenya's national security, I would, without fear of contradiction, state that corruption is a more significant threat to our security and existence than Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab terrorists, Duale said, can easily be identified and dealt with by security agencies because of their unique modus operandi, unlike forest land grabbers who often remain anonymous and far from the public eye until petitions are filed in court.

"Al-Shabaab you can identify them, you know their location and capability but corruption is killing our country," he said.

Further, Duale noted that a considerable number of forest land grabbers are public officials holding senior positions in government, vowing to revoke their land titles should he be confirmed into the position. 

"I want to categorically say that if this House approves me, in the first 30 days, working with the Lands CS and government agencies, land titles belonging to big people in government, some of them Members of Parliament, will be revoked," he said.

"I am ready to bear the consequences particularly on the Oloolua forest. I have been briefed by experts and have seen it's deliberate. In the last two years, there are people who bought illegal title deeds and they will be the first people I visit. Mr. Speaker, some of your members might be casualties."

Duale added that should he be appointed, he will consolidate all forest land grabbing petitions, chaffing out genuine cases from the not-so genuine ones before forwarding his findings to the Cabinet for further action.

"If the House approves me, forestry will be my business. Grabbers of forest land will be my business irrespective of who they are or whatever status they hold in society," he said.  

"Corruption is killing our country. If you sit here and you've illegally allocated forest land, be warned."