Sudi, Aladwa top list of least active MPs – report

The ranking of the most — and least — active senators and Members of National Assembly has been released.

According to Mzalendo Trust, a non-governmental organisation that audits Kenya’s Parliament, the 2023 Parliamentary Scorecard, which covers the period between September 29, 2022 and June 30, this year, the two Houses considered a total of 66 Bills.

Some of the issues that MPs raised touched on land historical injustices, the promotion of mental health and issues affecting learners with disabilities.

Among the issues raised by senators were food security, drought and conservation of the environment.
During the period, key areas of concern among Kenyans were the high cost of living, high rate of unemployment, prolonged drought, insecurity, the Shakahola cult deaths, cost of energy, implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum, public debt, sexual abuse in workplaces, the welfare of migrant workers, state of healthcare and NHIF, food security, police brutality, climate concerns, state of mental health and land matters.

According to the scorecard, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu are the most active Members of Parliament.

Fifteen members of the National Assembly among them Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), George Aladwa (Makadara) and Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town East) have not uttered a word since they were elected.
“The 15 did not contribute on the floor of the House, some of whom have been highlighted in previous scorecards of the 12th Parliament as having not made a single contribution,” reads a report by Mzalendo Trust scorecard on MPs’ performance in the 13th Parliament.

Most accomplished

Others in this group of non-performing lawmakers are Ernest Ogesi (Vihiga), Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon), Charles Gimose (Hamisi), Feisal Bader, (Msambweni), Innocent Momanyi (Bobasi), Ronald Karauri (Kasarani), Mohamed Soud (Mvita), Paul Chebor (Rongai).

Others are Joseph Iraya Wainaina (Nominated), Teresia Wanjiru Mwangi (Nominated), Elizabeth Kailemia (Meru) and Muthoni Marubu (Lamu).

In the youth category, the least active MPs are Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North), Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache) and Teresia Wanjiru Mwangi (Nominated).

Others on the list of the most accomplished in the National Assembly are Beatrice Elachi (Dagoreti North), James Nyikal (Seme), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North) and Ken Chonga (Kilifi South) in that order.
In the Senate, Eddy Oketch (Migori), John Kinyua (Laikipia), Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated) – UDA and Mohamed Faki (Mombasa) were the best performers.

Members who are yet to make a maiden speech in the National Assembly are Ronald Karauri (Kasarani), Mohamed Soud (Mvita), Paul Chebor (Rongai), Ernest Kagesi (Vihiga), Joseph Iraya (nominated), Teresia Wanjiru (nominated), Elizabeth Kailemia (Meru Woman Rep) and Muthoni Marubu (Lamu Woman Rep.)
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji is best-performing legislator in the youth category, followed by Irene Mayaka (Nominated), Josses Lelmengit (Emgwen), Robert Ngui (Yatta), Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti) and Amos Mwago (Starehe).

Welcoming the findings, Mukunji said it is not easy to catch the eye of the Speaker in a crowded House of 349.

Active senators

“The report is a welcome move by the Trust. It shows our work is being recognised out there,” said Mukunji.

Another youthful MP, Irene Mayaka, said: “It is an honour to feature among the most active youthful parliamentarians in the scorecard. I will endeavour to keep the active legislative engagements consistent.

Elachi leads in the list of the most active women MPs followed by Sarah Korere (Laikipia North), Beatrice Kemei (Kericho), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe) and Phylis Bartoo (Moiben).

Nominated MPs Mirah Abdullah, Joyce Korir, Shakilla Abdalla are among the women who are yet to make a contribution in the House.

The least active senators are Chimera Mwinzago who has contributed 23 times, Hezena Lemaletian (Nominated) 21 times and Karen Nyamu (Nominated) 17 times.
In the consideration of legislative business, concerns were also raised over the significance of public participation.

According to Mzalendo Trust Executive Director Caroline Gaita, there is a mismatch between citizens expectations and Parliament’s actions.

“Whereas citizens have invested heavily in public participation, the results have not been reflected in the most anticipated legislative proposals,” Gaita states.

For instance, despite public outcry on the high cost of living, members of the National Assembly did not heed Kenyans’ calls to reject certain punitive clauses of the Finance Bill, 2023.
In addition, the Senate voted down the Division of Revenue Bill 2023 which had proposed an additional allocation of Sh22 billion to counties.

An overview of the Bills passed indicates that the Houses’ priority was on recurrent public finance legislation, a focus area of the Executive.

Other business considered by the National Assembly included 191 Motions, 297 Questions, 59 Statements and 32 Petitions.

Top counties

In the Senate, 31 Bills were considered, with two originating from the National Assembly.

The bills that were passed by the Senate were the County Governments’ Additional Allocation Bill, 2022, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Division of Revenue Bill, 2023. Some 61 motions were also filed at the Senate, 315 statements sought and 24 petitions filed.

In terms of members’ contributions, a member of the National Assembly averagely spoke 10 times, with a staggering 187 (68.14 per cent) members speaking less than that.

A Senator spoke an average of 41 times, with only one Senator speaking less than 10 times. Unlike the National Assembly, all Senators also managed to contribute in the plenary.

“This can be attributed to the difference in numbers between the two Houses with the National Assembly having 349 members while 67 members sit in the Senate,” reads the report.

The most active counties in Parliament were Nandi with (7.8 per cent), Nairobi with (6 per cent), Kisumu (4.8 per cent), Laikipia (3.9 per cent) and Bungoma (3.9 per cent).

The least active counties were Tana River (0.30 per cent), Tharaka Nithi (0.30 per cent), Vihiga (0.50 per cent), Nyandarua (0.60 per cent), Samburu (0.70 per cent) and Garissa (0.70 per cent).