Families of thousands who died under last regime could fill Uhuru Park - Duale

Families of thousands who died in the last regime could fill Uhuru Park, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale now claims.

Duale, speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Sunday night, downplayed criticism of President William Ruto’s administration over rising cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings, claiming that the scale of such incidents was far worse under the previous regime led by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The CS shifted the blame to the previous leadership, asserting that many more lives were lost during that period.

“In the last administration, thousands and thousands of people died. Take a camera, walk in Garissa, Mombasa, Mandera—any city—and ask those who lost their loved ones during the last administration to come out. They would fill Uhuru Park,” Duale said.

Duale reiterated that President Ruto and the government do not condone abductions, pledging that they are committed to tackling the issue. “It’s unacceptable, both as a government and under the Constitution. President Ruto and us don’t believe in abductions,” he said.

He also addressed allegations that security agencies are involved in enforced disappearances, emphasising that if any security personnel are found guilty, they are not acting on behalf of the government.

“If there is anybody within the security agency that is part and parcel of abducting, that is not the position of the President,” he added.

Duale further pointed out that the Ruto administration had made extrajudicial killings a key focus in its manifesto.

“We are the only administration that put the issue of extrajudicial killings in our manifesto; it is something the government has been working on,” he said.

His comments came amid growing concerns raised by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi over the government’s handling of insecurity.

Muturi, a former attorney general, warned that the rising cases of abductions and killings are severely damaging the country’s reputation, urging President Ruto to take decisive action.

In response, allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have condemned Duale and other UDA lawmakers for calling for Muturi’s resignation, accusing Duale of attacking a colleague who has been vocal about the government’s failure to curb kidnappings and disappearances.

At a separate event in Garissa County, Duale reiterated that Cabinet members must respect their appointing authority, suggesting that any CS dissatisfied with the government should resign rather than publicly oppose it.

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