Tension filled the parliamentary chambers on Tuesday when a scheduled session between the National Assembly’s Health Committee and officials from the Ministry of Health turned chaotic.
What was meant to be a formal oversight meeting quickly spiraled into heated confrontations between Kitutu Chache MP Antony Kibagendi and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, leaving the committee in disarray and exposing deep mistrust between lawmakers and the executive.
The friction began when MPs accused Duale of trying to intimidate committee members who were demanding explanations about the ministry’s performance and expenditure.
The atmosphere changed sharply as Kibagendi firmly told the CS that the committee would not be bullied or treated disrespectfully.
His remarks drew murmurs of approval from some members, who felt the ministry had been uncooperative in responding to parliamentary inquiries.
Kibagendi’s outburst did not sit well with Duale, who fired back by accusing the MP of having personal interests in health-related matters.
The CS claimed that the ministry had previously shut down hospitals allegedly linked to Kibagendi and warned that more could face closure.
The statement triggered immediate anger from the legislator, who dismissed the accusations as lies meant to divert attention from genuine accountability questions.
He insisted that he did not own any hospital and accused the CS of using personal attacks to escape scrutiny over the ministry’s failings.
As the confrontation escalated, Committee Chairperson James Nyikal struggled to restore calm. Kibagendi, however, accused him of taking sides, claiming that the chair had allowed Duale too much leeway to dominate the discussion.
His frustration grew as he accused Nyikal of bias and abandoning the principles of fair leadership, telling him he was “living on borrowed values.”
The shouting match disrupted the flow of the meeting and left several members visibly uncomfortable.
Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge later intervened, questioning why disciplinary action was only being directed at Kibagendi while Duale remained seated.
She pointed out that both men had engaged in the argument and that the chair’s selective response was unfair. Her remarks appeared to echo a wider frustration among MPs who believe that Cabinet Secretaries often treat parliamentary committees with arrogance, undermining the spirit of accountability.
With tempers still high and no clear resolution in sight, order completely broke down. Some members chose to walk out in protest, leaving the meeting almost deserted.
By the time calm returned, only three committee members remained, forcing an abrupt continuation under a tense atmosphere.
The chaotic session underscored the growing friction between the legislature and the executive over oversight and accountability. What was supposed to be a routine engagement to discuss the state of Kenya’s health sector ended up exposing the sharp divisions, egos, and mistrust that continue to plague government institutions.
The dramatic scenes raised serious questions about the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight when mutual respect between MPs and Cabinet Secretaries seems to be eroding.
