Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended Director General of National Intelligence Service Noordin Haji and his Director of Criminal Investigation counterpart Mohamed Amin.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of Mustaqbal University Duale said the two are qualified and competent Kenyans who earned their jobs after careful evaluation.

There have been sustained attacks on the NIS boss following Public Service CS Justin Muturi’s claims that the outfit had abducted his son Leslie Muturi.

Muturi said it took the intervention of President William Ruto to have Leslie freed after Haji ignored his calls and those of Deputy President Kindiki Kithure when he served as Interior CS.

But Duale while mentioning previous officers who were at the helm of both DCI and NIS claimed that the current office holders are being profiled because they come from the northeastern region.

READ: Is NIS the abductor in chief?: CS Muturi links top spy agency to abductions

“Why are people criticising now when people of this region are given these jobs, there were so many people who came before them and they have never received such criticism like this,” he said.

Duale took a swipe at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua whom he said started profiling Kenyans in the public service claiming that he was fired because he was incompetent perpetuating tribalism within the cabinet.

“I have been with him in the cabinet, every day he has an agenda of tribalism that is why the President refused to work with him,” Duale said.

Duale said the Ruto-led administration would not entertain tribalism adding that they will build a strong country devoid of tribalism.

Gachagua has also on numerous times criticized Haji over what had claimed of not advising the President.

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Duale also took issue with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s claims that aliens are given IDs saying that communities should not be discriminated against.

Garissa Township member of Parliament Dekow Barrow Mohamed said Northeastern have suffered in abduction and enforced Disappearance menace with the previous administration with no one to speak for them.

He particularly pointed fingers at Muturi who he claimed were among people cheering when the Previous Administration was involved in alleged abduction and extrajudicial executions.

The MP urged locals to support President Ruto’s administration saying there are so many projects initiated under this government.