Kenya’s Defence CS Pressed To Specify Inaccuracies In Raila’s KDF Coup Allegation
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya was pressed on Wednesday morning to explain why a story published by the Nation Media Group (NMG) claiming that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga protected President William Ruto from an attempted coup was false.
The Defence Minister appeared before the Senate plenary and stated that the media had erred in portraying the government’s military deployment in July last year as a coup.
Addressing the legislators, Tuya claimed that the usage of the phrase ‘coup’ in the Sunday Nation story was misleading, rendering the report false, wrong, and hazardous.
@kdfinfo discounts claims attributed to @RailaOdinga in the Sunday @NationAfrica that the former joined KK Gov last year to prevent a military coup. KDF has stated that they are a professional force and apolitical institution committed to the highest standards of integrity. pic.twitter.com/2JEewvXoA4
— Andrew Teyie (@muholo) March 17, 2025
“The question on what was inaccurate in the article by the Nation Media Group — to the extent that the article referred to a military coup — I can only say that it is indeed baseless, inaccurate, and reckless,” CS Tuya explained.
The former Environment Secretary clarified the situation when Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna urged her to explain why the Defence Ministry described the Nation report as false in a statement issued on Monday, March 17.
Sifuna asked the CS which element of the Nation’s story was false about the coup accusations, given public knowledge of the military’s deployment in July last year.
“I saw a very curious statement from your ministry dated March 17 regarding the circumstances of the deployment of the KDF in July 2024,” Sifuna stated.
Edwin Sifuna corners Defence CS Soipan Tuya over Raila’s remarks that KDF wanted to overthrow the government pic.twitter.com/rKpQbPpMf6
— The Kenya Times (@thekenyatimes) March 19, 2025
“As you know, I am a firm believer in the freedom of the media, and we must say that we were very concerned to see the army in the streets during the protests.”
“My party leader has addressed certain possibilities of a military takeover in specific regions,” he added.
“In your view, what was inaccurate in the Daily Nation report regarding the possibility of this country being handed over to the military? Explain the basis of your conclusion in that statement.”
According to an exclusive interview with Nation Media, Raila said that the military presence during the anti-Finance Bill protests in 2024 could have evolved into a situation in which the military assumed complete control of the country.
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Tuya’s recent comment comes just two days after she criticized Nation Media for the aforementioned item, describing it as sensational reporting.
In a press release issued on Monday, March 17, the CS stated that the report in question was based on unconfirmed accusations intended to increase reading rather than protect journalistic integrity.
“The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is a professional and apolitical institution committed to the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and service to the nation,” the Defence CS said.
“KDF remains unwavering in its loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief and its duty to safeguard the security and well-being of Kenya and her people, free from political influence or sectarian interests.”
Kenya’s Defence CS Pressed To Specify Inaccuracies In Raila’s KDF Coup Allegation
