Mr. ‘Come here, Go there’: How Aden Duale became Ruto’s favourite chess piece

In the ever-shifting chessboard of President William Ruto’s administration, one name keeps getting picked up, dusted off, and placed on a different square - Aden Duale. In just two years, he has been the country’s Defence chief, then Environment boss, and now, the new face of the Health ministry. If Cabinet portfolios were a game of musical chairs, Duale would be the guy always finding a seat - just never the same one for too long. But what exactly makes Duale the President’s most transferable asset? His very loyal Mr. ‘Come here, go there’ soldier. Let’s follow his whirlwind journey through the corridors of power.

Duale appeared on Ruto's inaugural list of 22 Cabinet Secretaries, a show of faith in his abilities to handle the Defence docket. At the time, simmering conflicts within the neighbouring regions bespoke an unfolding security nightmare.

Critics argued that Duale's appointment was not out of the blue. With a track record of public service and as an experienced political leader, many believed he was the right man for the job.

Things were, however, not rosy as Ruto's government gained a notoriety for failed promises and not listening to mwananchi's voice.

In the run-up to his victory, Ruto had been christened as the saviour of the country's woes, but things took a quick turn as the public lost faith in him.

What followed was the historic anti-government protests that erupted in June last year, with Gen Zs opposing the Finance Bill 2024 and calling for the President and his Cabinet to resign.

Their anger forced the President to retract the Bill and dissolve the Cabinet, before later reconstituting it – with a few notable names making a comeback. Duale was among the recycled ministers who made a comeback in the Cabinet as he retained his seat in the Defence docket.

However, in a rare change of heart, President Ruto amended his Cabinet list four days later, swapping Duale with Soipan Tuya in the Environment ministry. This raised questions on whether the President doubted Duale's capacity to lead the critical Defence docket. 

This came up during Duale's vetting session, now as Environment minister, in Parliament in which he retorted that it was within Ruto's purview to reorganise his Cabinet as he pleased.

Less than a year later, and as was expected, Ruto has moved around his Cabinet again, with Duale now taking over the Health docket. The man from Garissa Township has been swapped again, with under fire Health CS Dr. Deborah Barasa, who will now handle the Environment ministry. 

In his entrée, the new Health CS has to restore public trust within the highly controversial Social Health Authority (SHA) system, which keeps experiencing technical hitches.

At the same time, Duale will be required to appease his boss's request of ensuring all Kenyans register for the conflict-riddled new health scheme.