Duale: How I married KDF chief's daughter

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale during an interview at his office on September 16 Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

NAIROBI, Kenya - From humble beginnings, nobody thought that Kenya's Defence minister Aden Duale would marry from the family of one time Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces [KDF], a royal family so to speak given the prestige and privilege which comes with the title even in present times.

In his book, 'For the Record: The Inside Story of the Power of Politics, Lawmaking, and Leadership in Kenya', Duale, who would later be elected four times as Member of Parliament for Dujis later renamed Garissa Township, narrates his family roots and relationship to retired Chief of General Staff Gen. Mohamoud Mohamed.

Gen. Mohamed is known for the role he played in 1982 in crushing the famous coup, which saw a junta from Kenya Air Force stage mutiny against former President Daniel Moi. Mohamoud, then Kenya Army commander, mobilized loyal forces to save Moi, and would later serve as Air Force Commander and subsequently, KDF chief.

Duale in his book, ' says that they told her parents that they had an interest in their daughter on behalf of their son. Duale was still at Moi University, studying teaching.

"Sometimes, even the son doesn’t know that the family has gone on that mission," Duale explains, admitting that he came from a peasant family while the former Chief of General Staff’s family was feared and treated like royalty.

Later, the family started vetting Mr. Duale on his commitment to religion and ability to steer a stable family. Duale says that as soon as the vetting was done, it was upon him, while still on campus, to woe the young woman and win her.

"The young man and woman are usually not in the picture. The deal will be reported to them once they are ready," he notes.

"As soon as that was done, it was upon him to woe the young woman, sweep her off her feet, and remove any doubts about their suitability as husband material," he said, adding, "I knew the girl, we had met a few times."

He goes on to say that the general's family knew him well because he had helped him get into Moi Forces Academy, had lived with his sons in Nakuru during teaching practice, and had pestered the brother, then a minister in the president's office, to help him pursue law.

"They had vetted me closely, and it seems I checked all the boxes," Duale adds.

"They often miss the bit that marriage is not often a two-person affair. Two people from different backgrounds come together to start a family under one roof," Duale adds and notes that families often feel obligated to help out with money, gifts, and marital advice.

"There is also the unending handholding to help the newlyweds transition from singlehood to marriage," Duale says.

According to him, after the bride finished secondary education, a wedding was organized in accordance with Somali culture which was attended by family members from either side.

"Every time I introduce my wife, or whenever people see me with General Mohamud Mohammed, the question that lingers in their minds is how a boy from a nameless, destitute background managed to marry a beautiful woman from the general’s household, which really, royalty in our hood," he says, adding, "The answer lies in Somali culture and Muslim tradition-the role of the family in betrothal, wedding, and marriage."

At a young age, the CS for Defense says, he grew together with his wife, with love flourishing and both "loving every moment". The two are still together and quite close, he argues in his book, adding that she was also instrumental in her political journey.

"If there’s anything that kept our relationship stable, then it is the post office - I used to send her dozens of letters expressing my undying love, saying how much I missed her," he says, adding, "She also wrote to me. Her letters are sprayed with exotic scents, drip with adolescent romance, and have the urban finesse of a beautiful girl in love with a hardworking and intelligent village hustler."

"Together we have raised five sons with a lot of promise; they make us proud. They may be children of a politician and fairly reputable businessmen, and grandchildren of a famous general, but they must live their lives, " Duale says, adding, "I particularly love their disinterest in politics.

Duale won his fourth term as a legislator but would resign three months later for appointment as the minister in charge of Defence. Recently, he supervised the smooth transition from former Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Robert Kibochi to the new Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Francis Ogolla.

GAROWE ONLINE