The newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Soipan Tuya, on Monday, August 12, took over the leadership of the Defence Ministry from her predecessor, Aden Duale.
Duale has taken over Tuya’s previous position as Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
Tuya’s appointment to the Defence docket makes her the third woman in the country to hold the vital position in Kenya’s history.
Previous female appointments have included appointments of Raychelle Omamo and Monica Juma.
During the handover event, Tuya received a comprehensive report detailing the Ministry’s projects and programs from the past two financial years.
She also got the roadmap for the current fiscal year, which aims at enhancing national development and security.
Before her appointment, Soipan was the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, a position she held for nearly two years.
Tuya’s background in law and governance, combined with her previous role as CS for Environment and Forestry, uniquely positions her to address the multifaceted challenges facing the Ministry of Defence.
These challenges include managing Kenya’s security operations, particularly in the context of regional threats like Al-Shabaab, and overseeing the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) modernization efforts.
Her leadership brings a new perspective to the Ministry, focusing on both national security and the integration of environmental considerations into defence strategies.
In his farewell message, Duale wished his successor well in her new portfolio noting that her exemplary service to the country both as a legislator and a Cabinet Secretary, she is equal to the task ahead of her.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri, Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Patrick Mariru, Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) Lieutenant General John Omenda and other senior MoD and KDF officials were present during the handover ceremony.
