Senators beat MPs in fighting for 'Wanjiku'

Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Solai Dam tragedy led by Chairman Mutula Kilonzo Junior (left),Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina (right) and Ministry of Water and Sanitation Chief Administrator Secretary (CAS), Winnie Guchu (Center) inspecting one of the Patel Dams Patel farm. Mutula Jr has been voted among legislators representing interest of Kenyans well. [Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Senators dominated the list of this year’s best performing lawmakers, according to a new survey.

Five of the seven legislators recognised by Kenyans for championing the interests of the public in Parliament were members of the Senate, according to the study by Mzalendo, an online platform that keeps tabs on the performance of MPs in House plenaries. 

Mzalendo gives the public a chance to vote for their best lawmakers in six categories.

Senators Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni), George Khaniri (Vihiga), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) and Petronila Lokorio (nominated) bagged the 2018 ‘People’s Shujaaz’ Awards in various categories.

Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut and Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo were the recipients of such awards in the National Assembly. Voting was done online between November 30 and December 9.

Mr Sakaja and Mr Kilonzo Jnr jointly bagged the Wanjiku’s Best Representative 2018 Award in the security and disaster management category.

This is after the duo sponsored the Risk Management Bill, 2018, which provides for the creation of an agency that will coordinate disaster response measures between the national and county governments.

Mr Khaniri and Mr Cheruiyot emerged winners in the Wanjiku’s Best Representative 2018 in the person’s living with disabilities and the needy categories respectively. Khaniri was feted for his Motion in which he wants a database of all those living with disabilities created, so they can easily receive help from Government.