Winning a political seat is not a mean feat and retaining one is even more demanding and expensive. But some six MPs have defied these obstacles by maintaining their winning streak for decades.

Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi is the longest serving lawmaker in the country having been elected for four consecutive terms. Born on November 18, 1945, Angwenyi was first elected to Parliament in 1996 on a Kanu ticket during a by election.

He was re-elected in 1997 on a Ford People ticket. During the 2002 elections, Angwenyi again retained the seat on a Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket. He, however, lost the seat in 2007 to Richard Onyonka.

In 2013 he recaptured the seat on a TNA ticket but this time, representing Kitutu Chache North which was hived off from the former Kitutu Chache constituency.

Aden Duale has served Garissa Township constituency for three uninterrupted terms. Duale has served as a representative of the Dujis constituency in the National Assembly since the 2007 polls.

After initially being elected on the Orange Democratic Movement party ticket, he switched parties for the 2013 elections, and was re-elected on United Republican Party ticket. In 2017 elections, he was elected on Jubilee Party ticket. Duale is the immediate former Leader of Majority in the National Assembly.

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and Bachelor of Education degree from Moi University. Duale attributes his success to service delivery to his people and being accountable to them.

“I have won the seat on three different party tickets, it is not easy although party affiliations do not count in my region but what you deliver,” said Duale.

He says that his development record speaks volumes and being elected for three terms is a testimony of the faith that the constituents have in him.

“I had contemplated quitting after the current term but my constituents prevailed upon me not to. There are many aspiring candidates currently seeking to take over from me but the people have the feeling that I should continue serving them,” Duale said.

He is a founder member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Victor Munyaka

Victor Munyaka was born in 1964 in Machakos county. He is the MP for Machakos Town, a position he has held for 15 years now.

Munyaka was first elected in 2007 on an ODM–K ticket. He, however, fell out with the party leadership in 2013 and joined the Chama Cha Uzalendo party ticket in Meet longest serving MPs in 12th Parliament Leaders attribute their wins to God’s favour, service delivery and being in touch with electorate the CORD coalition and easily retained his seat.

The MP is the only politician to have fallen out with the region’s kingpin and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and managed to win a political seat. Before venturing into politics, Munyaka was a successful businessman operating an “agro-vet” business in Machakos town. He is a trained veterinarian.

Adan Keynan

Adan Keynan is the long serving Elda’s MP and among the long-serving politicians in North Eastern Kenya. Born in 1968 in Wajir county, Keynan joined active politics in 1997. He has served as MP from 1997 to date and he is seeking re-election in August elections.

Among the hallmarks of his career in Parliament is the way he steered the powerful Public Investment Committee (PIC) coming up with far reaching recommendations which led to the arraignment of senior state agencies officials implicated in corrupt deals and implementation of key reforms in the same agencies. He attributes his success to God’s blessings whom he says has guided him over the time.

“Passion, commitment and service delivery have also been key to my success. These attributes have been driving me to push for more over time,” says Keynan.

Naomi Shaban

She is the longest serving woman MP in the country having served as Taveta MP in Taita Taveta county for four terms.

In a field dominated by men, many women incline to back out because of numerous factors. But in Shaban’s case, it has been different as she has defied all the odds to make winning part of her DNA.

Shaban, who is a dental surgeon by profession, first ventured into politics in 2001 when a by-election was called in Taita Taveta constituency following the resignation of Basil Criticos.

During that period, she was not very determined to participate in the mini-polls, but because of pressure from groups of people who would travel from Taita Taveta and camp at her Nairobi home persuading her to take up the challenge, she gave in and accepted to run.

“I finally agreed to run and I told them please don’t come to Nairobi anymore, I will be coming to Taita Taveta from now on,” Shaban said in an interview.

In the 2002 General Election, despite strong opposition, she won the Taita Taveta parliamentary seat on a Kanu ticket.

She later became Kenya’s Branch Representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 2003 to 2007. In the 2007 General Election, she was re-elected and was appointed as the Minister for Special Programmes until 2010 when she was transferred to the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs, a position she held until 2013.

In 2013, she ditched Kanu and joined TNA and subsequently recaptured her seat on the party’s ticket in a county where the Governor, Senator, Woman Rep and four of the five MPs, were elected on an ODM ticket. In 2017, she routinely defended her seat for the fourth consecutive term.

By doing so, she joined the league of the likes of Deputy President William Ruto and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who have never lost in an election.  

Samuel Moroto

Samuel Moroto is the long serving MP for Kapenguria constituency in the National Assembly. A career teacher and trade unionist, he was first elected to Parliament in 2002.

The 62-year-old was first elected as an MP in the 2001 Kapenguria by-election occasioned by the death of the then MP, Francis Lotodo.

He was re-elected in the 2002 General Elections. In 2006, Moroto was appointed by retired President Kibaki to the position of assistant minister, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.

Moroto lost the 2007 elections to Reverend Julius Murgor but bounced back in 2013 when he defeated his closest opponent by more than 500 votes.

Francis Chachu Ganya

Francis Ganya is the MP for North Horr constituency in Marsabit county.

He has been the MP from 2007 to date. From 1992 to 1996, he was an undergraduate Student at St Lawrence University Canton, Northern New York studying BA Environmental Studies and Government.

From 1997 up to 1999 he was a Graduate Student at George Mason University, US studying MA (Public Administration) and also Post Graduate Diploma in Non Profit Managemen