Nyikal to Duale: Goal is to fix SHA, not win debates

National Assembly Health Committee chairperson Dr James Nyikal chairs sittings on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. /ENOS TECHE

National Assembly Health Committee chairperson Dr James Nyikal on Tuesday moved to defuse tempers after a heated altercation between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi nearly descended into a fist fight during a session on the troubled Social Health Authority (SHA).

At the height of the tension, a visibly angry Kibagendi rose from his seat and advanced towards Duale, declaring, “Duale, mimi huwezi nitisha — I fear no one.”

Attempts by fellow MPs to restrain him proved futile as the confrontation threatened to disrupt the sitting.

Duale, who maintained that he could not be intimidated, accused the MP of being part of a network of individuals undermining government efforts to reform the health sector.

“You are extortionists; we have closed your hospitals, and if possible, we will charge you in a court of law,” he said.

The remarks appeared to have irked the MP, who retorted: "You can charge me, I don't own a hospital. You think you can intimidate us, we don't fear you."

The fiery exchange erupted as committee members pressed the CS over alleged massive fraud within SHA, the agency now responsible for administering three key funds — the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, and the Essential Health Services Fund.

These funds, estimated at more than Sh20 billion collectively, are designed to expand access to affordable healthcare under the government’s universal health coverage plan.

Duale has previously said that investigations had uncovered fraudulent claims running into hundreds of millions of shillings, with some health facilities allegedly billing for ghost patients and non-existent services.

Several facilities have since been closed as part of an ongoing crackdown.

As the confrontation intensified, Duale proposed that Kibagendi be ejected from the meeting, but Dr Nyikal overruled the CS, asserting that it was not within his mandate to dictate how parliamentary proceedings should be conducted.

“It’s not in your place to determine how this meeting is run. Now go and read what we have allowed you to read,” Nyikal said firmly.

“Do not make any comment or give any direction of any nature.”

After restoring order, the chair directed Duale to proceed and table his statement on the steps the ministry was taking to address the alleged fraud within SHA.

Duale, a former Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, cited parliamentary standing orders, insisting that members with conflicts of interest should be disciplined.

However, Dr Nyikal reminded him that the session’s purpose was not to trade accusations or score political points, but to improve the performance of SHA.

“If I really wanted to go by the rules, maybe I would have closed this meeting,” he said. “It is more important to hear such exchanges then settle down to get the points which we will now work on.”

Nyikal reiterated that the committee had already approved Sh13 billion for the Primary Healthcare Fund and another Sh8 billion for the Emergency and Chronic Illness Fund, and that their main interest now was to determine how Kenyans were benefiting.

“We don’t come here to win public debates or press debates,” he said. “Let us focus on the real issues that will make SHA work for Kenyans.”