CS Duale stirs controversy with remark on wearing of hijabs

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has stirred up a storm with his controversial remarks about Kenyan Muslim women and hijabs.

Speaking at Sir Ali Muslim Club, Parkroad, Nairobi on Tuesday Duale said: “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.”

Later, Duale clarified that his remarks were taken out of context. His position was supported by several commentators. 

Music Copyright Society of Kenya CEO Dr Ezekiel Mutua said: "I think the statement by Hon. Duale is being twisted. I have listened to the clip and there's absolutely nowhere the CS has threatened to force Muslim women to wear hijab or leave Kenya. In fact he was defending them against anyone uncomfortable with seeing muslim women in hijab!"

Incidentally, this is not the first time that the former Garissa Township MP had stoked controversy over Hijabs. 

In 2019, he called on the Ministry of Education to take disciplinary action against school heads who were compelling Muslim girls to remove Hijabs during school sessions.