Govt defends Duale over Al Shabaab list

The government has defended National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale over the alleged failure to produce the list of Al Shabaab financiers and sympathizers as he had promised in the wake of Garissa University terror attack that left at least 148 people dead and scores injured.

The government – through Deputy President William Ruto – said that Duale and other North Eastern leaders had visited the area and made recommendations on how to deal with radicalization of youth as well as talk to the communities on the importance of joining forces with the government to fight terrorism.

Also read: We Don’t Owe You Any Al Shabaab List, Duale to Nkaissery

Ruto said that Duale and other leaders from North Eastern Kenya used their resources and time to carry out an extensive research on causes of radicalization and possible de-radicalization measures.

“Mr Duale and his team did an exceptional job. They went to North Eastern and talked to the people, compiled a report with very useful recommendations on how to deal with the issue of radicalization,” said Mr Ruto.

“It is not all about giving a list but about long term solutions to the radicalization and terrorism problem.”

Duale was on the spotlight for the last two weeks after he said that he did not owe any list to the Interior Cabinet secretary Major (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery or anybody.

Duale, and a section of North Eastern leaders, said that they will not produce any list of the financiers or sympathizers of the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab militants since they did not know them.