Parliamentary Scorecard: Hon Millie Odhiambo maintains top performance, 34 MPs silent

The 2020 Parliamentary Scorecard released by Mzalendo Trust ranks Hon Millie Odhiambo as the top performer in the National Assembly among the female members in 2020.

A serial top performer, having made the top list in 2019 as well, the Suba North Member of Parliament is joined in the top five female performers by Sabina Chege (Woman Rep, Muranga), Gladys Wanga (Woman Rep, Homa Bay), Rachael Nyamai (MP, Kitui South) and Eve Obara (MP, Kasipul Kabondo).

Of the five, three double as chairs of house committees: Sabina Chege – Health Committee, Gladys Wanga – Committee on Finance, and Rachael Nyamai – Lands Committee.

Overall, Hon. Millie comes third with 166 average number of speech counts in the National Assembly after Kimani Ichung’wa – 203 (Kikuyu) and Joseph Limo – 198 (Kipkelion East)

According to the report, 31 Members of the National Assembly failed to make any contribution in the plenary compared to the 21 in 2019. In the Senate three members failed to make any contribution, an increase by two compared to 2019 when only one Member was silent.

The Parliamentary sessions in the 12th Parliament were disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak which saw parliament proceed on a recess in March 2020.

Despite the disruption by the pandemic, Parliament still saw a considerable amount of bills, motions, petitions and statements tabled.

16 bills, 9 motions, 30 petitions and 219 statements were tabled in the Senate in 2020; a slight difference to the figures in 2019 when 18 bills, 15 motions, 34 petitions and 198 statements were tabled.

The trend was similar in the National Assembly with 22 bills, 6 motions, 52 petitions and 363 statements tabled in 2020. In 2019 there were 19 motions, 70 petitions and 236 statements.

Mzalendo Trust releases the Parliamentary Scorecard annually ranking performances of MPs in the Senate and the National Assembly.