Frontier Eye Desk
A routine session of the National Assembly’s Health Committee descended into chaos on Tuesday after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale engaged in a fiery verbal exchange with Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi, who accused the minister of corruption and mismanagement at the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The confrontation brought proceedings to a standstill for nearly half an hour as tempers flared during the committee’s grilling of Duale over alleged graft and operational failures in the ministry’s flagship universal health coverage program.
Tensions peaked when MP Kibagendi accused Duale of personally benefiting from irregular SHA tenders, shouting, “You are an extortionist and a thief!” Duale shot back, dismissing the accusations as “cheap politics” and demanding decorum from the chair.
Witnesses described the exchange as “electric,” with members rising from their seats as aides rushed to restore order.
The turmoil was further fueled by a separate confrontation between Duale and Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge, who pressed the CS on widespread complaints over delayed SHA benefits and system failures.
Muge questioned why millions of Kenyans remained locked out of essential healthcare services despite massive budget allocations.
Duale defended the ministry, citing “budgetary constraints and ongoing reforms” under his leadership.
Committee Chair Dr. James Nyikal (Rarieda MP) was forced to suspend the session briefly before reconvening and calling for calm.
“Our goal is to fix the SHA, not to trade insults,” Nyikal said, urging members to focus on solutions and accountability.
The heated session, broadcast live on parliamentary channels, quickly went viral on social media, with clips of the altercation attracting thousands of views within hours and igniting a wave of public commentary online.
Launched earlier this year as a replacement for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the Social Health Authority has faced mounting scrutiny over opaque procurement processes, ghost suppliers, and allegations of financial impropriety.
Opposition lawmakers claim as much as Sh2 billion may have been misappropriated, stoking outrage among Kenyans already burdened by rising medical costs.
Duale, who took office just months ago, has repeatedly defended his stewardship, citing ongoing audits and digital reforms aimed at cleaning up the system. However, Tuesday’s explosive scenes in Parliament laid bare deep divisions within the ruling coalition and renewed questions over the government’s capacity to deliver on its universal healthcare promises.