Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday, May 11, was accused of doublespeak by a section of Kenyans following his stance on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
In a media interview on Wednesday, May 10, CS Duale stated that the SGR project was marred with graft, especially in the tendering and payment of contractors.
Duale also opined that the railway line from Nairobi to Mombasa was overpriced.
"Railway to Nowhere is a very interesting chapter. SGR is the most expensive Railway, I think it is overpriced. It is where serious graft took place in its tendering and payment," Duale stated.
He further took a swipe at the SGR project extension to Suswa, Narok County, indicating that it did not serve the intended purpose.
However, following his sentiments, a series of statements shared by CS Duale resurfaced online.
On October 7, 2017, Duale published a statement on his Twitter page defending the SGR project. Duale dismissed claims that former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration plundered loan money into building the railway line.
He refuted the allegations, insisting that the SGR project benefited the country. Besides giving it a clean bill of health, Duale indicated that Uhuru's government could account for every penny borrowed.
"In our current situation, the money the Government has borrowed has gone into tangible projects that directly benefit Kenyans; like the SGR," Duale wrote.
"Kenyans can rest easy knowing that every coin Government has borrowed has gone into prudent use; contrary to the opposition’s insinuations," he added.
Following his latest stance, where he described the SGR project as ineffective, a section of Kenyans online slammed the CS, accusing him of doublespeak.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had castigated the government on the project, arguing that it was inflated. However, the government denied the allegations indicating the project was within the agreed framework with the Chinese contractors.
