Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian has raised alarm over the lack of political awareness among Kenyans, particularly in marginalised regions.

Speaking during a live Senate session on July 23, 2025, Lemaletian called for urgent civic education to bridge the information gap between elected leaders and their constituents.

The session formed part of a broader motion to devolve Senate sittings and bring national leadership closer to the people, with Busia spotlighted as a region battling systemic neglect.

Exploitation of ignorance

Senator Lemaletian noted that many Kenyans remain unaware of the basic roles of their elected representatives.

“We often fail to recognise that there are parts of this country where people do not even understand the role of the Senate. Even worse, some counties are unaware of the roles of any elected leaders,” she said.

She observed that unscrupulous politicians take advantage of such gaps in civic knowledge. “I have observed that when some leaders realise their constituents are largely illiterate, they take advantage of that and lure them with false promises,” she stated.

Her concerns align with findings in a 2021 Journal of African Elections report, which documented a 30 percent surge in vote-buying in marginalised areas like Busia during the 2017 elections.

Clarifying Senate mandate

Lemaletian emphasised that senators do not manage development funds, contrary to popular belief.

“It’s important for citizens to understand that senators do not have development funds. Their role is to speak up for the people and defend their rights,” she said.

Her remarks reinforced the oversight role enshrined in Article 96 of the 2010 Constitution, pushing back against narratives advanced by populist leaders who campaign on promises of infrastructure projects.

Marginalisation cuts across

The nominated senator admitted to having previously misunderstood the true scope of marginalisation for shedding light on the county’s challenges.

“I support the sitting of the Senate in Busia County. I’m glad the Senator for Busia has made me aware that Busia is among the marginalised counties in this country,” she said.

“I used to think marginalisation only affected minority communities, but now I see that even some majority communities are also suffering from it. With this in mind, I believe it’s time we declare war on marginalisation as the oversight arm of the Republic of Kenya.”

Busia County has an extreme poverty rate of 26.8 percent, according to a 2019 Open Book Publishers study.

She urged fellow senators to visit and witness firsthand the lived realities of neglected regions, a call that received support from Senator Okiya Omtatah, who seconded the motion.