In any functioning democracy, the foremost duty of an MP is legislation. This is the essence of their role, which is why we refer to them as legislators.
However, in our country, we have given MPs another role, that of development, through the Constituency Development Fund.
Consequently, many MPs have become preoccupied with CDF duties, treating their legislative responsibilities as an afterthought. This misallocation of priorities is where we fundamentally err.
An MP who fails to make a significant impact on the floor of the House and in House committees is, in my view, an ineffective MP. Why do we applaud MPs for distributing small bursaries when they are incapable of comprehending and effectively debating bills presented before parliament?
When MPs vote recklessly or abstain from voting, the consequences can be far more detrimental than the challenges they may be trying to solve with the bursaries.
We must undergo a paradigm shift in how we evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of our MPs. Do not elect an MP simply because he built a toilet at your local public school or police station.
Instead, consider the number of bills he has sponsored, the bills he has opposed, and his voting record on major legislative issues over the five years. This is the only way we will ensure the presence of serious and committed individuals in parliament.
Last year, there were reports of MPs voting on the Finance Bill, 2023 without having read it, only to later admit their ignorance to their constituents. This is a blatant insult to voters.
In such cases, these MPs should be immediately recalled. Their incompetence is not just embarrassing, it is dangerous. When asked about the climate summit taking place in Nairobi in September last year, one MP was visibly flustered, unable to articulate a coherent opinion. Such ignorance is perilous.
In the recent past, Kenya has gained significant global attention, with major powers like the US, China and the UAE expressing keen interest in our affairs. This means that in our dealings with these global partners, we will be relying on Parliament to make critical decisions for us from time to time.
For example, MPs will need to understand why a foreign country wants to establish a military base here and whether it’s a good idea for us or otherwise. They will also have to decide for the country how much fare we get from our “friends” when our leaders want to arrive in the US in style, considering the place of the constitutional principles of leadership and integrity.
We will be relying on the legislators to come up with good laws that regulate environmental pollution (especially industrial pollution) lest we blindly allow “investors” to release poison into the environment.
Also, as our MPs pass laws, they need to judiciously decide which foreign cultures we need to embrace and which ones have no place in our society. These are decisions of immense national importance that require MPs to be well-informed and thoughtful.
On the contrary, if we continue to elect unqualified individuals to the august House, we risk waking up one day to find our country sold off to foreign interests.
We must demand more from our MPs. Let us hold them accountable for their primary duty—legislation. Only then can we ensure that our Parliament serves the people effectively and safeguards our national interests.
Student journalist