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Fourteen old timers, 29 women representing single-member constituencies and 12 young MPs. That is the anatomy of the incoming Parliament.

The 13th Parliament will also comprise long-serving legislators, new MPs, members who ran unopposed as well as those living with disabilities.

Data from Mzalendo, an entity that keeps track of MPs performance shows that the number of legislators re-elected to the National Assembly stands at 151, including 137 representing single member constituencies and 14 Woman Representatives.

This, compared to 152 MPs in the last Parliament, comprising 140 lawmakers representing single member constituencies and 12 women representatives.

Mzalendo Executive Director Caroline Gaita said the new House will have more MPs with diverse backgrounds compared to the previous one.

Back from cold

Gaita noted that having the old guard back to Parliament means that they will have to undergo some refresher course of sorts as they were used to the old order while the new ones will require a lot of support to be able to acclimatise themselves with parliament.

“For those coming back, this is good for continuation because they will be able to finish what they started. As for the old, this is a very high number as we will have an interesting mix,” she said.

She added: “As Mzalendo we will keep an eye on Parliament and we will be monitoring what the new Parliament will be up to, we will also follow up on their legislative track record.”

According to the data from Mzalendo, former members making a comeback include Farah Maalim who clinched the Dadaab parliamentary seat. Maalim served as Lagdera MP from 2008 to 2013.

Another veteran making a comeback is Wanjiku Muhia who clinched the Kipipiri parliamentary seat after trouncing former National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya in last week’s election. Muhia served as the Nyandarua Women Representative between 2013 and 2017.

Also back in Parliament is Samuel Chepkonga who reclaimed the Ainabkoi parliamentary seat from former MP William Chepkut who had trounced him in 2017.

At the Coast, former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba has made a comeback after one term in the political cold.

Bedzimba, a close ally of outgoing Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho, first represented Kisauni constituency between 2013 and 2017.

Former Agriculture minister Mwangi Kiunjuri is also back in parliament, after clinching the Laikipia East parliamentary seat. Kiunjuri previously represented the constituency between 1997 and 2013.

Others returning to parliament after a stint in the political cold include Mary Emaase who clinched the Teso South parliamentary seat after trouncing outgoing Busia governor Sospeter Ojamong’.

Emase previously represented the constituency from 2013 to 2017.

Gachoki Gitari was elected Kirinyaga Central MP, where he served from 2013 to 2017, Joseph Mburu elected Lari MP, where he served from 2013 to 2017, Samal Lomwa elected Isiolo North MP, where he served from 2013 to 2017, while Alice Ng’ang’a recaptured Thika Town seat which she occupied from 2013 to 2017.

Also making a comeback are Gonzi Rai (Kinango), Harrison Kombe (Magarini) and Julius Sunkuli (Kilgoris). Also back in parliament is new Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi who served as a nominated senator between 2013 and 2017.

Long-serving

Long serving MPs who retained their seats include Jayne Kihara (Naivasha) and Aden Duale (Garissa Township) who are both serving their fourth terms in the august house.

 MP and leader of Majority and has been elected for the 4th term as well as  

Also in this league include Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East) and Adan Keynan (Eldas) who are both serving their third terms.

Beatrice Kemei made history when she was elected unopposed as the Kericho Woman Representative while another twelve women were re-elected as Woman Representatives, compared to 14 who were re-elected in 2017.

Furthermore, four former Woman Representatives were also elected to represent single member constituencies. 

They include Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), Rosa Buyu (Kisumu West), Ruweida Obo (Lamu East) and Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri).

 The 12th parliament will also have two members living with disabilities after Timothy Wanyonyi was re-elected for a third term as Westlands MP while Martin Wanyonyi Pepela made history as the first person living with Albinism to be elected as Webuye East MP (Ford Kenya).

The youngest MPs to be elected include Peter Salasya (Mumias East), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Cynthia Rotich (Nandi Woman Representative) John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye West), Linet ‘Toto’ Chepkorir (Bomet Woman Rep) Felix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o (Lang’ata), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South) and Kimani Kuria (Molo).