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Mercy Mwai @wangumarci

Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata, Minority Leader James Orengo and former Majority Leader Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen are the best performing lawmakers in their respective regions, a new report shows.

The survey placed Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Boy Issa Juma (Kwale), Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Yusuf Haji (Garrissa) as top-performers.

While releasing the report yesterday, Infotrak Research consulting firm Chief Executive Angela Ambitho said while all elected leaders have elaborate job descriptions, they are not limited to legislation alone.

The fact that they sought the mandate of the electorate means their performance is also determined by their engagement with the same electorate, she added.

“Ratings of all other elected leaders within the county are individual ratings and depend entirely on their engagements with their electorates,” she said.

The report on the performance index of senators ranks Kang’ata as the best performer in the Central Region with a 52.4 per cent score. 

He is followed by Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu) with 49.2 per cent; Ephraim Maina (Nyeri) with 43 per cent, Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga) with 40.8 per cent while Nyandarua’s Mwangi Githiomi is ranked lowest with a 39.8 per cent score. 

Orengo leads the pack in Nyanza region with 51.1 per cent followed by Fredrick Outa (Kisumu) with 50.3 per cent, Ochilo Ayacko (Migori) with 46.4 per cent, Sam Ongeri (Kisii) with 45.9 per cent, and Okong’o Omogeni from Nyamira at the bottom with 43.3 per cent.

 In Coast, Issa Juma is leading with 55.4 per cent, followed by Mwaruma Mwashushe (Taita Taveta), with 47.6 per cent, Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) with 46.6 per cent, Anuar Loititip (Lamu) with 43.8 per cent, Mohammed Faki (Mombasa) with 42.9 per cent and Golicha Wario from Tana River comes last with 36.4 per cent.

In Eastern region, Kilonzo Jnr leads with 66.4 per cent, followed by Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) with 54.6 per cent, Kithure Kindiki (Tharka Nithi) with 52.6 per cent, Boniface Kabaka (Machakos) with 47.1 per cent, Peter Ndwiga (Embu) with 46.9 per cent, Mithika Linturi (Meru) with 44.7 per cent while Marsabit’s Hargura Godana is the last in the region with 42.5 per cent.

Exemplary performance

Nairobi Senator Sakaja is ranked among the top performers with a 50.9 per cent score.

In Western, Malala comes on top with 54.8 per cent followed by Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) with 51.6 per cent, George Khaniri (Vihiga) with 50.7 per cent and Busia’s Amos Wako at a low 40.4 per cent score.

With regards to Rift Valley region, Murkomen is ahead of the pack with 58.8 per cent followed by Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) with 57. 2 per cent, Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) with 52.8 per cent, Samuel Poghisio (West Pokot) with 52.1 per cent, Samson Cherarkey (Nandi) with 51.5 per cent, Ledama ole Kina (Narok) with 48.6 per cent, Christopher Langat (Bomet) with 47.5 per cent.

In North Eastern, Haji tops with 45.4 per cent, followed by Mahamud Maalim (Mandera) with 43.9 per cent while Abdulahi Ibrahim from Wajir is ranked last with 39.1 per cent Mutula, Murkomen, Lelegwe and Malala’s exemplary performance could be linked to their fervent opposition to the controversial revenue allocation formulae.

Malala and Lelegwe’s stand in particular saw them arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and driven to their respective counties before being released unconditionally.