Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo Mabona and nominated Jubilee MP David Ole Sankok are Kenya's top two Members of Parliament according to the latest Mzalendo Trust survey.
The survey assessed participation in parliament sessions for each MP, taking note of the number of times the MPs had given a speech in parliament or contributed in parliamentary debates.
While noting that the two MPs have been consistent in being active in Parliament, the survey reported a general decline in participation at the 12th Parliament over the year 2020.
The decline was attributed to disruptions on normal parliamentary proceedings, necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"According to the 2020 Parliamentary Scorecard released by Mzalendo Trust, a high number of Members of Parliament (MPs), the highest for the 12th Parliament thus far, did not make any contribution in 2020.
"The drop is also evident from the average number of speech counts by top performers. In the National Assembly, the count, which stood at 227 in 2019, dropped significantly to 176 in 2020," the report read in part.
The report went on to list the 20 top performing MPs at the National Assembly as follows (in no particular order):-
- Millie Odhiambo Mabona (Suba North)
- David Sankok (Nominated)
- Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu)
- Patrick Mariru (Laikipia West)
- Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East)
- Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini)
- Racheal Nyamai (Kitui South)
- Sabina Chege (Murang’a)
- Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay)
- Godfrey Osotsi (Nominated)
- Dr Robert Pukose (Endebess)
- Eve Akinyi Obara (Kabondo Kasipul)
- Ruweida Mohamed Obo (Lamu)
- William Chepkut (Ainabkoi)
- Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia)
- Charles Ngusya (Mwingi West)
- Dennitah Ghati (Nominated)
- Cecily Mbarire (Nominated)
- John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South)
- Martha Wangari (Gilgil)
Worst performing Kenyan MPs
The survey also listed Kenya's worst performing MPs in the 2020 parliamentary year. The bottom 30 MPs also included eight who had never made a contribution in the house during the past year.
They were listed as:-
- Jane Chebaibai (Elgeyo Marakwet)
- Jane Njiru (Embu)
- Anab Gure (Garissa)
- Irene Kasalu (Kitui)
- Rose Mumo (Makueni)
- Amina Gedow (Mandera)
- Asha Mohammed (Mombasa)
- Lilian Tomitom (West Pokot)
- Janet Teyiaa (Kajiado)
- Ernest Kivai (Vihiga)
- Alfred Sambu (Webuye East)
- Imran Okoth (Kibra)
- George Kariuki (Ndia)
- Joshua Aduma Owuor (Nyakach)
- Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango)
- Lokiru Ali Mohamed (Turkana East)
- Oscar Sudi (Kapseret)
- Gideon Konchella (Kilgoris)
- Fred Ouda (Kisumu Central)
- Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South)
- Mathias Robi (Kuria West)
- Marwa Kitayama (Kuria East)
- Bady Twalib (Jomvu)
- George Aladwa (Makadara)
- Abdi Shurie (Mbalambala)
- Maalim Kulow (Banissa)
- Patrick Ntwiga (Chuka/Igambang’ombe)
- Said Haribae (Galole)
- Charles Gimose (Hamisi)
- Maina Kamanda (Nominated)
The 4th session of the 12th Parliament was predominantly shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered unprecedented disruptions to the hitherto normal operations.
Normal sittings were disrupted, including initial suspension and reduced physical attendance.
According to the Executive Director of Mzalendo Trust, Caroline Gaita “these challenges, including in performance are not unique to Kenya but are consistent with the challenges that faced legislatures across the globe as they sought to adjust their sittings, operations and resources to respond to the pandemic.”