When a sex chat ended a Parliamentary Committee session

In 2020, a parliamentary committee ended prematurely after a seemingly techno-challenged senator posted an embarrassing chat regarding his female colleague during a virtual meeting. The mistake caused blushing members to "left" the proceedings in a huff.

What was to be a serious meeting to grill directors of companies caught in the controversial procurement of Covid 19 essentials at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) came to an end without an official adjournment following an apparent sex hitch when the member of the Senate Health Committee mistakenly sent a sexually loaded message about a colleague to everyone who had logged into the zoom virtual meeting.

The senator had taken to the platform to protest failure by a witness who was virtually appearing before the committee to disclose his image while addressing the committee.Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga (not the one who sent the unsavoury chat) protested to the committee chairman, Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito that the witness should disclose his image as he addressed them.

"We need to see who is addressing us. From his expression, we can deduce so much from the witness. Let him be told to show us his image," Omanga requested.

Other senators agreed with the nominated senator, with Wajir Senator Abdirahman Ali saying it should be a rule that all witnesses and members appearing through the virtual platforms should always disclose their images.

But it would appear some senators were engaging in private chats as the grilling was going on.

Unknowingly, one senator wrote a message "Ni kama Chairman amekula (looks like the chairman has slept with....)"

But instead of sending the message to the colleague he was having a side chat with, he accidentally sent to everyone in the meeting. Ouch!

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The message, however, did not cause a stir until he publicly sought to apologise for what he had written, saying it was wrong and only done in jest with the female senator.

"Mr Chairman, on a point of order, I want to apologise for what I have written. I was only joking with her (the female senator) and I did not wish to share it with everyone," he said.This aroused curiosity even among those who had not read the message, prompting them to check the embarrassing chats. Some senators, including the targeted female senator, however, appeared to downplay the chat, saying there was nothing to apologise for and that the meeting should proceed.

But as exchanges continued, the Chair "left" the zoom meeting leaving it headless and without directions. Following the chair was the targeted female senator who immediately left and subsequently others, with the meeting ending without the official adjournment.

All work and no play, it seems, makes Jack a dull boy, and waheshimiwa were no exception.