Choppers' use in tree planting exercise haunts nominee Soipan

The countrywide tree planting exercise in which Cabinet Secretaries moved around in choppers reared its head during the vetting of Defence Cabinet Secretary nominee Soipan Tuya.

Soipan who previously served in the Environment docket appeared before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula Thursday and was put to task over the rationale of having Cabinet Secretaries move around the 47 counties to do what governors could have done more effectively.

Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda asked Soipan to justify CSs moving around the country for a tree planting exercise, spending a lot of resources on logistics yet the funds could be used in the exercise itself.

“My role at the time was coordination, the Ministry of Environment did not make any logistical provisions for Cabinet Secretaries to travel around the country in choppers. Each one of them made their own arrangements and, after concerns were raised at Cabinet level, the exercise was given a grassroots approach,” said Soipan.

The designate Defence CS told the vetting committee she is now worth Sh243 million, a significant improvement of Sh87 million from the Sh156 million she declared when she was last vetted. She explained the change in fortune was due to the appreciation of the value of her assets.

Pokot South MP David Pkosing asked her what she would do to end corruption in the recruitment of KDF officers saying Kenyans were spending between Sh600,000 and Sh1 million to get the jobs, which are prestigious especially among the pastoralists communities.

Teso South MP Mary Emaase lamented that recruitment to Kenya Defence Forces has become a preserve of a few rich people and that it was worrying that those who join the military college are dismissed on flimsy reasons. She wanted to know what the CS nominee will do differently to change the trend.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko said the elephant in the room was why some individuals are given state letters to join the military colleges while others have to undergo rigorous recruitment processes.

Soipan said she will ensure that recruitment to KDF reflects diversity of all Kenyan communities and will take time to evaluate the KDF recruitment procedures, identify the gaps and carry out public sensitisation.

“If cases of malpractices are reported within the military ranks during recruitment, appropriate action would be taken. We will carry out a sensitisation among Kenyans so that they can know that they do not have to pay any money to be recruited to Kenya Defence Forces,” said Soipan.

National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Nelson Koech said the military felt that the civilian side in KDF was over-reaching itself asking her what she would do differently to make them feel accommodated. Soipan told players in the industry she is a team player and first learner.

Soipan said it was the role of KDF to protect the territorial integrity of the country and only offers a supportive role to the other agencies in internal emergencies.

She said that the gazette notice to deploy the military to help the police ensure normalcy following the recent unrest in the country was still live and would be reviewed when she gets confirmed to the position.

Soipan said that under her watch the Environment ministry achieved considerable milestones.