Aden Duale, the former Cabinet Secretary for Defense and now CS for Forestry, finds himself embroiled in serious allegations of corruption, smuggling, and questionable financial dealings.
These claims surfaced after a series of tweets by user Aoko Otieno on X, alleging that Duale, alongside his brother, imported expired drugs from Dubai, evading taxes by routing them through Somali ports.
According to the accusations, Duale used military vehicles during his tenure as Defense CS to transport these drugs from Somalia to Kenya, where they were repackaged in Nairobi’s Industrial Area and sold to local pharmacies, including Medina.
The claims also extend to Duale’s involvement in the illegal smuggling of charcoal and sugar through Somalia.
As Duale now heads the Forestry docket, questions are being raised about his alleged participation in these smuggling operations and the potential conflicts of interest within his new role.
This isn’t the first time Duale’s name has been mentioned in connection with dubious financial activities.
Back in 2015, as Majority Leader in the National Assembly, two companies linked to Duale were awarded contracts worth Ksh 400 million by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC).
These contracts, one with Concordia Building and Civil Engineering Ltd and the other with Nomad Palace Hotel Ltd, raised significant queries due to their timing and nature.
Concordia, which was tasked with partitioning GDC offices, and Nomad Palace, which provided catering services to GDC workers, shared a P.O. Box address in Garissa, hinting at possible collusion.
At the time, the GDC was already under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for inflating transportation costs related to power plant equipment, amounting to Ksh 1.7 billion.
EACC was also probing GDC Managing Director Silas Simiyu, who was eventually suspended for his involvement in these corrupt dealings.
Documents filed at the Registrar of Companies showed that Duale was initially a director of Concordia.
However, just a month after securing the contract, he resigned as director and transferred his shares to Marian Mohamed Hassan.
The timing of the resignation and share transfer raised eyebrows, as it appeared that Duale was attempting to distance himself from the company after the contract was awarded.
Aoko Otieno’s tweets further accused Duale of using Somali ports to import expired drugs, avoiding taxes at the Mombasa port, and using Kenya’s military infrastructure to distribute these drugs.
The tweets also alleged that as the drugs neared their expiration date, they were repackaged and sold in Kenyan pharmacies, suggesting a sophisticated operation with deep political and economic connections.
Adding to these claims are allegations that Duale was involved in evading taxes through the smuggling of charcoal and sugar from Somalia, further contributing to his considerable wealth, which he declared during his vetting as Ksh 980 million.
While these allegations remain unproven, they have sparked widespread calls for thorough investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the EACC.
Duale’s close ties to political elites and his substantial influence within Kenya’s politics have led to concerns that any inquiry into these accusations might be compromised.
There are fears that powerful individuals may have already influenced investigations, making it difficult to hold those responsible accountable.
Duale maintains his innocence, claiming that these allegations are politically motivated attempts to discredit his leadership and public service record.
However, the magnitude of the claims surrounding smuggling, corruption, and misappropriation of public resources puts significant pressure on the relevant authorities to conduct transparent investigations and, if necessary, take legal action.
In a country where foreign companies have been implicated in tax evasion and smuggling activities, as seen in cases like M-Kopa’s Ksh 885 million tax evasion, the spotlight is firmly on whether justice will be served.
Even as Duale continues with his new role as CS for Forestry, all eyes are on whether this latest position will provide him with additional cover or lead to his undoing.
The public continues to wait for a resolution as Kenya grapples with systemic corruption and calls for greater transparency within its government ranks.
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