Silent lawmakers whom no one seems to know about

Kilifi Women’s Representative Aisha Jumwa did not recognise Mwea MP Peter Gitau moments until he was saved by the police from irate youths baying for his blood following accusations of voter bribery in the Malindi by-election.

In the video clip, she refers to him as huyu jamaa (this guy) and her body language suggested that Mr Gitau is a stranger she had never met in the corridors of Parliament.

After the incident, a number of people confessed to having thought he was a former MP with some surprised all together that he is in fact a lawmaker.

This episode in the dramatic events in Malindi last Monday coincided with the release of a report last Thursday indicating that a large number of MPs are virtually dormant in Parliament.

This is a departure from the past, when MPs needed no introduction and possibly a sign of the diminishing power and influence of MPs, who have been put in the back burner by devolution, which created powerful governors and the influential position of Member of County Assembly. 

"PUNGUZA MZIGO"

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria perhaps summed it up best with his remark recently that these days, it is easy to mistake an MP for a waiter or other support staff in Parliament given that some have never contributed to debate in the House.

“I strongly believe that the number of lawmakers needs to reduce to say 200. This way, you will get quality debate which will in turn give quality laws,” Mr Kuria said. 

He is spearheading a push to amend the Constitution by popular initiative dubbed Punguza Mzigo.

Supporting him, the Deputy Minority leader in the National Assembly, Jakoyo Midiwo, says reducing the number of constituencies will also help contain the wage bill.

The report by Mzalendo Trust released on March 10 shows that about 139 MPs out of 416 (349 from the National Assembly and 67 from the Senate) are not known elsewhere other than in their constituencies.

Mzalendo uses Parliament’s official record, the Hansard to gauge the performance. It does not analyse committees, where a lot of the work happens but whose records are not easily available.

MPs Alex Kosgey, son of former ODM chairman Henry Kosgey, Kipruto Moi, a scion of retired President Daniel Moi, Oscar Sudi, Gonzi Rai and Tirus Ngahu have never given their maiden speech in the House since they were elected in March 2013.

"JOYRIDERS"

Another 27 lawmakers seem to be joyriding, at least according to the report.

Mr Joseph Mburu Kahangara (Lari, TNA), Mr Paul Koinange (Kiambaa, TNA), Mr Joseph Ndiege (Suna West, ODM), Mr Fred Outa (Nyando, ODM) and Mr Daniel Wanyama (Webuye West, New Ford Kenya) were listed among poor performers last year.

Other MPs whose names are not frequently captured in the Hansard are Halima Ware Duri, the Tana River Women’s Representative her Marsabit counterpart Nasra Ibrahim Ibren and Rose Museo Mumo from Makueni.

Kirinyaga MP Winnie Karimi Njuguna, West Pokot’s Regina Nyeris Changorok, also a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission, Janet Nangabo from Trans Nzoia, Eusilah Ngeny from Uasin Gishu and Nandi’s Zipporah Kering were found to be quiet even as MPs blame the automated system the Speaker uses to call out leaders.

Turkana North MP Christopher Nakuleu, his neighbour from East Nicholas Ngikor, Kacheliba lawmaker Mark Lomunokol and Soy MP Edwin Barchilei are among those faces not easily recognisable outside their constituencies.

SPEAKER'S DEFENCE

While acknowledging that it is hard to have all the 349 members participate in a debate, Speaker Justin Muturi defended the House saying the report does not accurately capture performance.

“I saw the name of Mr Moi in that list for instance yet he was very articulate during the debate on the Lands Bill the other day. The report is not fair to him and other members,” he said.

Explaining that only 24 MPs can speak in any given day, the Speaker says legislation is one of the many roles of an MP and it cannot exclusively be the basis of measuring performance.

“On the strength of this sad reality, some members have given up trying to speak.”

As a remedial measure, Mr Muturi says “The whips can caucus and agree on people to debate on any given Bill so that we do not end up with people queuing just for the sake and locking others out because they came into the chambers earlier.

We can do some borrowing from England which has 650 MPs yet manages it well.”

And with just days to the end of the first quarter of 2016 and opponents lining up in hope to oust the incumbent at the General Election next year, there are a host of other MPs who are yet to make a mark in the House.

They are Mr William Kisang (Marakwet West, URP) and his colleagues, James Murgor (Keiyo North, URP), Jacob Macharia (Molo, TNA), Samuel Ndiritu (Gilgil, TNA) Lemanken Aramat (Narok East, TNA),Raphael Otaalo (Lurambi), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Michael Onyura (Butula), Mathias Robi from Kuria West, Elijah Moindi (Nyaribari Masaba) and Kajiado Women’s Representative Mary Seneta.

NAIROBI MPS

There has been criticism against Nairobi MPs that their presence was not being felt in the House despite coming from the capital city.

The leaders are Roysambu MP Waihenya Ndirangu, his Lang’ata counterpart Joash Olum, Embakasi East’s John Ogutu Omondi and George Theuri from Embakasi West are listed as having limited show in the Hansard.

“This is a dismal report given participation to debate is one of the key metrics in ensuring an MP fulfils his overall responsibility of representation, budgeting, oversight and legislation. Although the number of speech counts in plenary discussions is not indicative of the quality of input, it could allude to low capacity to exercise their Parliamentarians roles.”

“The high level of poverty and poor service delivery in the country does not warrant a legislator remaining silent in Parliament,” observes Ms Jessica Musila, the Executive Director, Mzalendo Trust.

Women’s representative Dorcas Kedogo (Vihiga), Mary Keraa (Kisii) and Bady Twalib Bady (Jomvu), Hassan Mwanyoha (Matuga), Mwinga Gunga (Kaloleni), Jones Mlolwa (Voi), Mohammed Abdi Haji (Banissa), Joseph Lomwa (Isiolo North), David Karithi (Tigania West), Bernard Kitungi (Mwingi West) and Kathian’s Robert Mbui are some of the no so common names in parliamentary circles.

The Sunday Nation is, however, aware that a favourable rating in the House debate does not necessarily influence popularity at the constituency level, neither is it a mark of an overall sterling record.

The business transacted in committees being as crucial as debate in the plenary also may not have been factored in in these surveys.