There was drama at a scientific conference in Kisumu on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after renowned legal scholar Prof. PLO Lumumba walked off stage mid-presentation.

Lumumba was speaking at the 18th TICH Annual Scientific Congress at the Mama Grace Onyango Social and Cultural Centre. He had been invited as a keynote speaker and was addressing Africa's medical research challenges, including HIV and AIDS research and why Africa still struggles to access research and research materials.

In the middle of his speech, organizers asked him to pause. Governor Anyang' Nyong'o had just arrived and they wanted to welcome him.

That did not sit well with Lumumba.

Visibly frustrated, he questioned why a programme that was already underway had to be stopped for a late arrival. 

"I'm researching the equation of HIV and AIDS, so, in reality, what we're saying is that Africa can't access research and research materials, largely because this is part of the African problem. I'm being stopped now because the governor came," he said.

He added: "I will stop, but these are the kinds of things that hold Africa back."

He then posed: "What is important, is it what we are saying or that the governor is coming?"

Lumumba went on to say the governor knew there was a meeting happening but chose to come late and interrupt.

"The governor knew that we are in the meeting. He chooses to come to interrupt, and we are here celebrating. I'll stop," he said, before ending his presentation and walking away from the podium.

The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral online, dividing Kenyans.

Some Kenyans supported Lumumba, saying he was right to call out poor time management and the culture of stopping everything to welcome politicians. Others said it is normal protocol to acknowledge a governor at a public function in Kisumu and he could have handled it better.

The TICH congress had brought together researchers, professors and medical practitioners to discuss community-led approaches to the 2030 health and climate Sustainable Development Goals.