The Senate Health Committee hearing the Ksh3.7 billion mosquito net scandal was disrupted following an emergency drill at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, carried out on Thursday, June 29.
All occupants, including senators, journalists and workers, were ordered to evacuate the building minutes after the hearing commenced.
Journalists indicated that the meeting was abruptly disrupted by an alarm followed by a police announcement ordering them to leave.
Perturbed by the news, the occupants made their way out of the KICC building, where police officers directed the flow of traffic.
"We had arrived to cover the committee hearing but a sudden announcement was made that people should leave," NTV reporter Ibrahim Karanja stated.
The occupants were moved to the fire assembly point as part of the drill carried out by police officers.
"There is a fire drill in the building, evacuate," shouted an officer. "(You are moving) too slow, hurry," shouted another officer while directing the traffic flow of people.
Smoke from the upper levels of the building billowed out in the air as fire trucks from the Nairobi County department arrived at the scene.
Former Principal Secretary of Medical Services Peter Tum was appearing before the Senate Committee to shed light on the procurement scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) at the time of the drill.
Tum was reassigned to the Ministry of Sports following a reshuffle made by President William Ruto which culminated in Public Health PS Josephine Mburu being axed.
While appearing before the Senate Committee on June 6, 2023, Mburu claimed that she did not interfere with the tendering process - arguing that it was Tum's mandate.
She urged the Senate to expedite investigations and unearth the actual perpetrators.
“I don’t know why I was fired. As I stated, I was in the office at around 6:45 am when the news came. I signed in during normal working hours. I was signing letters. I saw it in the media and I said okay," she stated.
"But the media told us that the President had been advised. I think the question is whether I would seek justice or perhaps we need to know what advice was given to the President to conclude that I was involved in this tender’," Mburu added.
