A heated exchange between Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech erupted this week, as the two lawmakers traded sharp barbs regarding the public scrutiny faced by National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji. The debate, which unfolded during Citizen TV’s Daybreak show, centered on accusations that some critics of Haji were motivated by his Somali origin rather than his professional competence.
MP Koech, defending Haji, argued that the ongoing attacks on the NIS boss stemmed from “ignorance” and a discomfort towards a Somali individual in such a powerful role. “Lately it’s become very fashionable to attack NIS and the persona of Noordin Haji,” Koech remarked. “It is because of the sheer ignorance of people. They do not understand the role of National Intelligence. Noordin Haji is brutally efficient, and that is why people have a problem with him. Particularly, people from certain quotas feel uncomfortable that for once we have someone from the Somali origin as the director of NIS.”
This line of argument sparked a furious response from Senator Onyonka, who condemned Koech’s remarks as “negative ethnicity” and warned against promoting divisive narratives. “That is profiling, it’s negative ethnicity. We have no problem with the Somalis, we have a problem with bad governance,” Onyonka retorted, asserting that the debate should focus on leadership and governance issues rather than ethnic identity.
The exchange, laced with frustration, saw Koech accuse Onyonka of bullying, while Onyonka insisted that the discussion should not escalate into ethnic profiling. “Stop being a bully; can you allow me to speak? Just shut up and allow me to speak,” Koech shot back. To which Onyonka countered, “Don’t say those things on TV. Don’t say them. Kenyans have no problem with Somalis.”
The tension between the two MPs was further heightened by the broader context of the debate—the aftermath of Raila Odinga’s loss in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson race. Following the defeat, the blame was directed at Haji, with critics accusing him of failing to provide essential intelligence to safeguard Odinga’s candidacy.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi weighed in, calling for Haji and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to resign over what he termed a failure to adequately advise Odinga on the challenges in the race. In a statement shared on social media, Amisi asserted, “In this AUC campaign, Noordin Haji failed miserably. By now Musalia and Haji should have resigned for lying and subjecting Baba to a loss that he doesn’t deserve!”
The ongoing row reflects the underlying tensions within the political landscape, where issues of governance, ethnic identity, and national security intersect, sparking fierce debates among Kenya’s political leaders.
