Duale engages MPs in shouting match after queries on health docket

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale did it yet again—this time displaying utter disrespect and contempt among his former colleagues.

Duale even called an MP, a member of the Health Committee, a one-term junior legislator who, in his estimation, should not talk to a ranking member.

“You are a junior member talking to a ranking member,” an angry Duale told Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge.

Muge had demanded answers on why Duale questioned parliamentary operations.

Health Committee Chairperson, Seme MP Dr James Nyikal, told Duale that the responses sought by MPs were meant to help the Social Health Authority (SHA) operate smoothly to actualise Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“We all want SHA to work. We have laws and policies in place. The only way to know if it's working is by going to the field,” Nyikal said.

What ought to have been Duale’s routine appearance before the Health Committee to address pertinent issues on his docket spiralled into chaos, watering down weighty public interest questions on the viability and effectiveness of the Social Health Authority.

Nyikal threatened to suspend committee sittings over Duale’s alleged intimidation, even as MPs raised concerns about the smooth operation of the health scheme.

“We do not come here to win public debate and press. CS, if you have a problem with my members, you know how to handle this so that we have a sober conversation when you come here,” Nyikal told Duale.

The dramatic showdown, which brought proceedings to a standstill, erupted after Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi accused the CS of bullying MPs and meddling in the committee’s oversight role.

Duale has previously been accused of intimidating anyone who questions his actions—from MPs and the media to the general public.

On several occasions, Duale has convened press briefings but barred journalists from asking questions. In some instances, his aides have been seen forcibly grabbing microphones from reporters after he appeared agitated by questions raised about gaps in the SHA.

While taking over the Ministry of Health docket from former CS Deborah Barasa, Duale described himself as a “bulldozer”—an attitude that experts say has hindered effective leadership, disrupted existing systems, and undermined the ability of other officers within the ministry to perform their duties.

On Tuesday, all MPs in the session walked out in protest, saying they felt intimidated by Duale, leaving only Nyikal, Muge, and Dhiwa MP Martin Owino.

After the mass walkout, Duale questioned the MPs’ decision and asked whether there was a quorum to continue the session.

Muge dismissed him, saying Duale had no standing to question the operation of the committee.

Duale turned to the MP, saying she had no authority to intimidate him as she was a junior legislator.

“I can’t be intimidated by a junior member. She has a right to ask, but not to intimidate me,” said Duale.

In response, Muge noted, “I must say I have been in Parliament for quite some time, and I must say I have better composure than other members.

“I want to say that the CS, on several occasions, has said I am intimidating him. This is a defence mechanism for the CS. He is the chief intimidator, and he paints that we are intimidating him so that he can intimidate you.”

“I have been able to swallow it (Duale’s intimidations) so that we can be able to move forward if we are really serious about providing solutions for this country by the Executive and the National Assembly,” she added.

Duale accused the committee of not following parliamentary standing orders after he was directed to respond to gaps and challenges facing the actualisation of the SHA, which has been denying Kenyans quality healthcare services.

In his defense, Duale alleged that some of the MPs probing him on SHA's own hospitals were extorting the Ministry and SHA.

This allegation irked Kibagendi, who questioned why the CS was lecturing MPs.

“You are a thief. We are not your children. We cannot allow you to come here to intimidate us. You are a thief. We shall not allow you to continue intimidating this committee,” said Kibagendi.

In exchange, Duale said Kibagendi and a section of committee members were extorting the Ministry and SHA.

Kibagendi said it is worrying that whenever Duale is questioned about SHA and operations at the ministry, he turns to intimidation and bullying.

“That is nonsense. This is what you have been telling people. Who has extorted you? You are very reckless. We shall not allow you to continue sharing this nonsense,” Kibagendi told Duale.

The committee had just presented its findings on gaps facing the scheme after a fact-finding mission in various hospitals across the country.

Among the SHA gaps identified by the committee included issues with the claims payment system—where SHA employees and hospitals are unclear on the process—empanelment of hospitals to SHA, pre-authorization issues, failure to identify and register indigents, inefficiency in SHA’s Information Technology (IT) system, lack of capacity building, lack of dispute resolution mechanisms, and misuse of the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), where money is still reallocated to other county departments despite being intended for healthcare improvement.

The committee also raised concerns about the lack of civic education on SHA.

Nyikal highlighted governance and oversight issues, saying the ministry has become more visible than the Authority.

“These are our findings. On all, we see policy, guidelines, and program issues that need to be looked at in a policy, strategic, and programmatic way. On indigents, we need to know who they are and have a clear way of identifying them,” said Nyikal.

He regretted that one year after the repeal of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), SHA is yet to set up a dispute resolution tribunal, despite it being stipulated in the SHA General Regulation, 2024.

“A dispute resolution tribunal has not been established or operationalized, leaving providers with no way to resolve disputes. As of now, there is no clear process to help them on how to resolve this,” added Nyikal.

The MPs’ verdict on SHA was damning.

Instead of responding to the gaps raised by MPs, Duale became defensive, maintaining he was only prepared to answer what he had been summoned for.

MPs said Duale began bullying, intimidating, and demeaning them, chest-thumping about his 20-year experience as an MP.

He told the MPs that he understood parliamentary proceedings better.

“How does Parliament work? All we have asked is to give us time to answer these questions,” Duale told the committee.

He had been summoned to respond to issues including payment of arrears to hospitals, SHA’s digital operations and empanelment errors, standardized registration, premium financing, inclusion of vulnerable groups, strengthening of the ICT system, fast-tracking of dispute resolution, and equitable reimbursement for ambulance and referral services.

But when MPs pressed him to respond, Duale maintained he was not under duress to speak beyond what he had prepared.

Deputy Chair of the committee Patrick Munene walked out in protest, citing the condescending manner of Duale’s responses to MPs and his handling of the SHA issue.

Munene had requested to have Acts and parliamentary policies on House operations set aside to find solutions to SHA struggles.

“We can’t keep hiding in Acts. We agreed to drop formalities as Kenyans and reason together. Even the Bible says, ‘Let’s reason together.’ Chairman, it’s not a good formula to discuss as Kenyans if we remain with formality. This is not how to handle problems,” said Munene.

Prof. Guyo Jeldesa also disagreed with Duale, saying there is a problem at the Ministry of Health and that the CS should not be defensive.

Nyikal shared Guyo’s sentiments, saying that tying responses to Acts and procedures continues to hurt Kenyans.

The chair admitted that the committee’s findings were new to the CS but insisted it was important to share field findings affecting health services across the country.

Kibagendi, however, maintained he owned no hospital.

“I have no hospital anywhere. This is the strategy you use to hide. We are not children—kuja kutusomea hapa (to come and lecture us here). We cannot allow a hostile witness to come here,” he said.

Instead of taking charge of the committee, Kibagendi accused Nyikal of adhering to orders given by Duale.

“For instance, at the beginning, the committee had informed Duale that the findings were new to him and that he was not to share all details raised. Duale had requested to be given a week to respond to the issues, and Nyikal agreed to his request, asking him to address some immediately,” he said.

“You are not chairing—he is the one who is chairing and directing you. You are intimidated by this man just because he is the President’s point person,” Kibagendi told Nyikal.

Nonetheless, he claimed Duale and SHA top officials were stealing from SHA through intimidation mechanisms.

As he continued to take on the chair and Duale, Kibagendi was kicked out of the committee.

Endebes MP Dr. Robert Pukose supported Duale, saying he needed more time to respond to the matter.

Addressing the media outside Parliament, Kibagendi accused Duale of intimidating committee members and showing open disrespect for professionals during the parliamentary proceedings.

“Duale kept saying we don’t understand standing orders. He was intimidating the chairperson and belittling the vice chair,” said Kibagendi.

The MP noted that he has consistently raised questions about SHA, but each time Duale has responded defensively.

“Anytime I ask questions based on the findings, he quickly comes up with excuses. When I asked about SHA operations, he accused me of owning hospitals. I challenged him to name which hospitals I own, but he could not. He claims I am linked to Convergence, yet CR12 records can prove otherwise,” Kibagendi said.

Further, Kibagendi alleged that Duale is involved in the mismanagement of SHA funds, frustrating hospitals while public contributions are being misused.

“We have a serious problem in this country. To President Ruto, I say this—Duale is arrogant and is seeking to discredit the committee. He disrespects professionals within the ministry, and the recruitment at SHA was done irregularly,” he added.