Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, December 20, sought to clarify his statement after stirring controversy over Kenyan Muslim women's dress code.
Duale noted that his statement was taken out of context after Kenyans on social media blasted the Cabinet Secretary for threatening school teachers.
In a statement to the press, Duale noted that his remarks at a conference were misrepresented in the media, to portray the idea that he wanted the women forced to wear hijab.
He maintained that Muslim women would be allowed to wear hijabs without intimidation from the society and government.
"As a member of the community and religion that has suffered the greatest forms of persecution the world over, I will not be cowed by the bias and distorted information in the media outlets have chosen to run with.
"I still am unapologetically Muslim. And, on behalf of Islam - which is bigger than us all. I said what I said," he stated.
Duale also dismissed those who called on him to apologise, claiming that he was misquoted by people who drove a narrowed interest in the matter.
Further, the CS shared a video of his comments to provide context for his statements.
Additionally, he expressed that Muslims had been stereotyped over the years, hence, underlining the need for unity when dealing with extremism.
"Religious hypocrisy has been the root cause of extremism that for a long time, true Muslim faithful have been stereotyped, segregated and in worse cases, their lives taken.
"The men and women masking their ulterior motives in kanzus and hijabs must be called out for who they are; charlatans!" he stated.
While speaking at Sir Ali Muslim Club during the launch of the International Quran Competition, Duale warned teachers to desist from asking Muslim girls to remove their hijabs during school hours.
“It is a must for any Muslim woman in Kenya to wear a hijab or scarf. If they do not want, then to look for another country to go to,” Duale affirmed.
This statement caused a major uproar among Kenyans on social media who asked the Defence Cabinet Secretary to apologise.
"Trying to be a Grand Mufti is politics we don’t need. Religious and Ethnic mobilization has no place in UDA," Chairperson of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) in the Executive Office of the President, David Ndii stated.
However, civil groups such as Amnesty Kenya came to his aid after they fact-checked the video that was going round on social media calling on various publications to retract their statements.
