Garissa Township MP Aden Duale has defended himself against allegations that he referred to the Catholic Church as a cult.
During an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Duale said ODM is a cult where nobody can speak.
“ODM is a cult where nobody can speak….its like the Catholic Church that has its own structures, it has the pope, but Jubilee is a very Democratic Party. I don’t condone those who use vulgar and unpalatable words but those are found in every political formation,” he said.
But Duale who received an immediate backlash from Kenyans on Twitter said his remark was in reference to the ODM Party and not the Catholic Church.
“I have tremendous respect for the Catholic Church and its elaborate structures. Am a man of faith who respects all the teachings of other religions,” Duale said.
My remark was in reference to the ODM party and NOT the Catholic Church as a cult. I have tremendous respect for the Catholic Church and its elaborate structures. Am a man of faith who respects all the teachings of other religions. #Duale #CatholicChurch pic.twitter.com/gye1tRBYVy
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH, MP (@HonAdenDuale) August 12, 2021
"What I meant was that sometimes you can run a political party like the structures of the Catholic Church. I have a lot of respect for the church."
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna demanded an apology from Duale urging him to respect the freedom of association and worship.
"As an ODM life member and fully baptized and confirmed member of the Catholic Church, I take great exception to the comparison by Duale of these institutions with cults. Duale must apologize and forthwith respect each one's freedom of association and worship," he tweeted.
Thank you kiongos. We here in PAG Lurambi Parish stand with our Catholic brothers and sisters against this unprovoked religious assault! https://t.co/c0dIDfuKPR
— Okumba Lwanda (@OkumbaLwanda) August 12, 2021
Roman Catholic Church is the oldest monotheistic religion bar Judaism. Islam & Protestantism are its offshoots.That my friend Aden Duale syncs ODM, a temporal political body & my Church, an ecclesiastical body is heretical to the largest body of believers in Kenya & the world.
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) August 12, 2021
A few weeks ago, Duale was frothing at the mouth saying there cannot be female kadhi. Now his fangs are trained at Catholics. This is dangerous religious intolerance. pic.twitter.com/RaSspelRoy
— Tiwaine Ole Nchoko (@OleTiwaine) August 12, 2021
During the interview, Duale said for the first time in a mature democracy, the President is organising the opposition.
He claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta has assembled a group of leaders from various parties representing tribal interests.
“I know President Uhuru, I have worked with him since 2008. It has never happened in any mature democracy. ..that when a president is exiting and he has a rank and file membership of eight million in his party, feels he should leave that and organise the Opposition to inherit and be part of his legacy in succession," Duale said.
This comes after Uhuru met with Raila and OKA chiefs Gideon Moi, Moses Wetang'ula, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka at State House in Mombasa this week.
Duale gave an example of South Africa, where former President Jacob Zuma hoped to leave the presidency to his wife who had just returned home in 2017 after a successful stint at the African Union.
“...a president selecting a successor from the opposition appears to be an excerpt from a book that only Uhuru has read,” he said.
"The president can have a problem with Ruto but there are other key leaders within Jubilee. Tell me where a leader crosses over the fence to look for a candidate."
Duale was weighing in on the festering relationship between Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto who no longer see eye to eye.
Edited by D Tarus
