By Betty Luke
Nominated Senator Abshiro Halake is among the five best performing Kenyan female senators according to a report by an organization that tracks MPs performance.
Ms Halake, trailing behind Farhiya Ali, Getrude Musuruve, and Milgo Alice Chepkorir all nominated, contributed a big percentage of the more than 200 statements tabled at the house between January and December 2020.
Mzalendo Trust, a parliamentary monitoring organization, has been releasing parliamentary scorecards in the last six years.
According to the lobby group’s recent report, Ms Halake tabled about seven statements in the house including on marginalization of the muslims with regards to access of finances given to Micro, Small and Medium enterprises, fire outbreaks in county offices, provision of training opportunities for Persons with disabilities serving in the Public Service and Imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on clean and renewable energy projects.
Other statements tabled by the legislator are alleged refusal by insurance companies to cover Covid-19 patients in hospitals other than designated government facilities, foreseeable challenges in meeting deadline for filing 2019 income tax returns, status of automation of land registries and general land records and derogatory reference of mentally challenged victims of sexual violence in the Penal Code.
The report also indicated that excluding the Senate House leadership, 32 senators had spoken in the house for more than 50 times equating to 48 percent, 19 members had spoken between 10-50 times contributing to 28 percent while four senators contributed less than 10 times in the house.
The number of silent members rose to three compared to one in 2019.
The three, Victor Prenge (nominated), Gideon Moi and Philip Mpaaye of Baringo and Kajiado respectively made no contribution in the house during the period under scrutiny.
Mzalendo Trust Executive Director Ms Caroline Gaita revealed that despite the challenges brought about by Coronavirus pandemic, there was a slight change in the number of submissions tabled compared to those tabled in 2019.
“Sixteen bills, 219 statements, nine motions and 30 petitions were submitted in 2020 compared to 18 bills, 198 statements, 15 motions and 34 petitions in the previous year,” said Ms Gaita.
In the lower house, 31 MPs never contributed to any debate meaning they did not speak in the parliament for the whole year.
Among them is Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and his South Mugirango and Makadara counterparts Sylvabus Osoro and George Aladwa. Others are Mandera Woman Rep Amina Gedow and her Garissa counterpart Anab Gure.
