A new report has been released detailing how Members of Parliament participated in their parliamentary obligation with a glaring focus on how a total of 19 of them never contributed to any debates in this year alone.
The report by Mzalendo, a non-partisan parliamentary observation group, released over the weekend, showed that the 19 never participated in any debates with the ruling United Democratic Alliance(UDA) leading with the majority.
The report has a record number of ten MPs from UDA, the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) followed with 4 and the Amani National Congress followed with 2 members.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi led the tally of the 10 UDA MPs who never contributed to any debates with Joseph Tonui Kipkosgei, Mathias Robi Nyamabe, and Samuel Kinuthia Gachobe of Kuresoi South, Kuria West and Subukia following respectively.
Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro (right) and his Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi during a fundraiser at AIC fellowship Annex Eldoret, Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on March 10, 2024.
Photo
Ndindi Nyoro
Others were Paul Chebor Kibet (Rongai), Dena Joseph Hamisi, Joseph Wainaina Iraya (both nominated), Stephen Karani Wachira (Laikipia West), Alfred Mutai (Kuresoi North), Clement Sloya Logova(Sabatia) and Barre Hussein Abdi (Tarbaj).
George Aladwa (Makadara), the longest-serving ODM chairman in Nairobi, leads the list of the party MPs who had zero contributions followed by Mohamed Soud Machele (Mvita), Paul Abuor (Rongo) and Kipronoh Patrick Osero (Borabu).
Other major parties including the Wiper, Democratic Alliance Party(DAP-K), and Jubilee followed with one member each who never contributed to any debate for the entire year.
The three parties had Irene Kasalu (Kitui), Patrick Barasa Simiyu (Cherangany), and Irene Njoki Mrembo(Bahati) closing the gap of the Mps with zero contributions respectively.
Vocal MPs
The report has also revealed that ODM had the highest number of the five most vocal MPs in terms of their contributions to the parliamentary debates.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo Ojiambo had the highest number of contributions to the debates with an overall tally of 103, followed by his Dagoreti North counterpart Beatrice Elachi who contributed 98 times.
Seme Mp James Nyikal, Kitui Central’s Makali Mulu, and Adan Wehliye of Eldas closed at the top five with a tally of 94,80 and 41 contributions for the entire year.
The vocalness was measured in terms of bills, and motions supported as well as questions raised on the floor of the house.
Elachi, and Women Representatives Zamzam Chimba Mohammed(Mombasa) Catherine Omanyo(Busia) Jane Njeri Maina(Kirinyanga), and Nakhabi Dorothy Ikiara(nominated) led the list of the most vocal female contributors.
Senate
In the Senate, Samson Cherargei(Nandi) Eddy Gicheru(Migori) Tabitha Mutinda(nominated) Erick Mogeni(Nyamira), and Gloria Orwoba(nominated) led the list of the members with the most contributions on the floor.
Issa Boy(Kwale) and nominated Senators Betty Batuli and Shakilla Mohamed had the least contributions in the Senate with tallies at 6, 19, and 22 respectively.
Members of the National Assembly during a previous Parliamentary session.
National Assembly