- Roselinda Soipan Tuya is the newly-appointed Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Defense by President William Ruto.
- The politician formerly headed the environment ministry before the president dismissed almost all cabinet members, except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy President.
- President Ruto was forced to make drastic changes following weeks of civil unrest, during which youth took to the streets demanding better governance.
- The president later restored several cabinet members including Sopian who was first renominated to the environment docket before being switched to defense.
Soipan Tuya Meets Military Top Brass at Defense Headquarters
Defense Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya met KDF leadership at the Defense Headquarters in Nairobi for a consultative meeting as part of her familiarization tour.
The high-profile meeting was attended by the Chief of the Defense Forces (CDF) General Charles Muriu Kahariri, The Vice Chief of Defense Lt. General John Omenda, KDF Service Commanders, and other senior military staffers.
Sopian’s meeting with the high-ranking men in uniform marked a crucial step for the 45-year-old cabinet member who took the reigns of Kenya’s defense ministry.
During her vetting at the National Assembly, Ms. Tuya admitted to having little knowledge of the operations and workings of the country’s defense infrastructure.
To her credit, Tuya assured the vetting panel that she is a fast learner and would quickly get up to speed with the country’s defense matters if approved.
Hon. Tuya also met the Principal Secretary of the defense ministry Dr. Patrick Mariru for an introductory meeting. Dr. Mariru has been in office since December 2022 after his appointment by the then-newly elected President Ruto.
Defense Secretary Soipan Tuya Tours KDF STRATCOM for Familiarization
Soipan Tuya also paid a brief visit to the Kenya Defense Forces Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) center at the Defense Headquarters.
The facility consists of premier television and radio studios, as well as other state-of-the-art communication infrastructure.
STRATCOM was mainly set up to communicate to the public and help Kenyans understand the military.
Through its Friday Bulletin editions, STRATCOM gives Kenyans a sneak peek into the events undertaken by the military.
The KDF Friday Bulletin gives operational briefs, social activities, and policy information relating to Kenya’s military.
Featuring news anchors drawn from the military, the KDF Friday Bulletin gives balanced coverage across the different defense services; Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Airforce.
Soipan Tuya was received outside STRATCOM by the head of KDF STRATCOM Brigadier Paul Njuguna for a guided tour of the facility.
Shortly afterward, the Cabinet Secretary appeared at the KDF newsdesk, faced the teleprompter, and read a gratitude message to the President while praising the exemplary work of the military.
“As I begin my tenure at the helm of the Ministry of Defense, I am honored by the trust bestowed upon me by the President and Commander in Chief of the Defense Forces and the people of Kenya. As I continue to familiarize myself with the docket, I have today visited the Strategic Communications Branch in recognition of its significant role in the dissemination of information about the ministry,” said Hon. Tuya in part.
The cabinet secretary also commended STRATCOM for informing the public and protecting them from fraudsters using the KDF to con the citizens.
STRATCOM recently blew the whistle on fake recruitment announcements spreading on social media. KDF maintains all recruitment drives are publicized in the mainstream media and posted on the defense ministry’s official social media handles.
Soipan Tuya was rigorously put through the paces of Kenya’s disciplined forces. The KDF is renowned for its professionalism and meticulous attention to detail, earning the admiration of many.