Nairobi, Kenya — Tension gripped Parliament on Friday after a confrontation broke out between police officers stationed at the parliamentary precincts and security personnel attached to several Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), causing a temporary disruption to proceedings and drawing the attention of lawmakers and staff.
Witnesses reported that the dispute began during heightened security checks as senior government officials arrived for scheduled engagements within the parliamentary buildings.
What initially appeared to be a disagreement over access protocols quickly escalated into a heated exchange involving members of both security teams.
Several officers were seen arguing in full view of parliamentary staff and visitors, with some participants allegedly engaging in a brief physical altercation before colleagues intervened.
Security personnel from both sides moved swiftly to separate those involved and restore order.
The incident attracted a crowd of onlookers, including parliamentary staff and members of the public who had been visiting the precincts. Normal operations were briefly interrupted as security officials worked to contain the situation.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the disagreement may have stemmed from differing interpretations of security procedures and authority within restricted areas of Parliament.
However, officials had not released a formal statement on the exact cause of the confrontation at the time of publication.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the incident, noting that Parliament should remain a place of order and professionalism.
Some called for an internal review to establish the circumstances that led to the clash and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
No serious injuries were immediately reported, although those involved were questioned by senior security officials as part of preliminary investigations.
Parliamentary authorities are expected to review security coordination measures between police units and protective teams assigned to senior government officials.