Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has responded to recent comments made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who described President William Ruto’s Cabinet as “flower girls” and a “rubber stamp.”
Duale strongly disagreed with these remarks during an exclusive interview with Citizen TV, calling them unfair and misleading.
He questioned the logic behind such a comparison, asking, “Do I look like a flower girl?” He added, “Flower girls are good, by the way, but a whole former Deputy President is calling the Cabinet flower girls? That is very immoral and very irresponsible.”
Gachagua had earlier criticized President Ruto’s administration, claiming it was a one-man show where Cabinet Secretaries had no real influence on government decisions.
According to Gachagua, the ministers in Ruto’s government were only there to praise the president and lacked any meaningful role in policymaking.
He stated, “The government that he leads is a one-man show. All those ministers you see are flower girls. I was the only man in Cabinet who could tell him, ‘This is not right.’ It is a praise and worship Cabinet, and I was the only one who could not fit in.”
Duale, however, dismissed these claims and turned the criticism back on Gachagua. He accused the former Deputy President of failing to contribute meaningfully during Cabinet meetings when he was in office.
Duale said, “The person who never contributed anything in Cabinet meetings is the former DP. It is very irresponsible to say that a Cabinet is a rubber stamp. Every minister in that Cabinet has a role, and we serve the people of Kenya, not just one individual.”
Duale’s response highlights the ongoing tension between current and former members of the government.
He emphasized that the Cabinet is made up of individuals who are committed to serving the Kenyan people, not just following the president’s directives.
Duale’s remarks also suggest that Gachagua’s comments may be more about personal grievances than an accurate reflection of how the Cabinet operates.
The exchange between the two leaders indicates the challenges of maintaining unity within the government, especially when former officials publicly criticize their successors.
This public disagreement raises questions about the dynamics within President Ruto’s administration and how it is perceived by those who were once part of it.
While Gachagua’s comments paint a picture of a Cabinet with little independence, Duale’s rebuttal insists that the ministers are actively involved in shaping policies and serving the nation.
The debate also reflects broader concerns about accountability and transparency in government, as well as the role of Cabinet members in a democratic system.
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