Legislators yet to grasp role in House

Despite taxpayers forking out Sh20 million to induct legislators on their roles, a number of them are yet to have a clear grasp of their work, it has emerged.

And because of this disturbing trend, Parliament has organised another training for them at the end of the month.

This follows requests by about 80 MPs, who have admitted that they do not understand what goes on in the debating chamber.

According to information from the Office of the National Assembly Clerk, at least 70 per cent of the 349 MPs in the National Assembly have no capacity to effectively discharge their legislative mandate, nine months after they were sworn into office.

MAIDEN SPEECHES

Majority of the lawmakers especially those serving their first term, are also yet to make their maiden speeches, according to Mzalendo.com, an online platform that tracks MPs’ performance in the plenary despite being vocal in political rallies and at funerals.

Speaking during a workshop with parliamentary journalists on Saturday, House Speaker Justin Muturi admitted that the quality of debating on the floor of the House may have gone with politicians like former MPs Martha Karua (Gichugu) and Martin Shikuku (Butere), among others.

“You can tell members who don’t read bills, petitions and reports among others. They are hardly in the House and they don’t contribute to issues. Over nine months down the line, majority of them have no clue how they are required to behave in the Chamber and even at the committee level,” Mr Muturi said.

INTERNATIONAL TRIPS

He however mentioned Leader of Majority Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), James Nyikal (Seme), John Mbadi (Suba South), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), as among MPs who are serious with their work.

Interestingly, sources in Parliament also revealed that some of the poor debaters have insatiable appetite for international trips due to the lucrative allowances they get.

Some MPs also cannot differentiate between a bill and a motion and have been heard complaining that “the President has not assented to many motions” that they have passed.

On occasions that parliamentary committees invite Cabinet Secretaries, it turns out that it is the CSs who lecture the members.

COMMITTEE STAGE

“Then you ask, who is oversighting who? The chair of a committee must assume the powers because they represent the Speaker in their committees,” Mr Muturi said.

According to National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai, MPs have only passed 16 Bills since being sworn into office.

Of this, eight have been assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta, three have been sent to the Senate and the remaining five are in the committee stage.