Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has criticised politicians who get nominated to Parliament every election year without vying for an elective seat.
The legislator announced on social media on Wednesday, September 23, that she would soon introduce legislation capping the number of nominations.
In support of her position, the MP asserted that the nomination seat was an affirmative action measure designed to get nominees started in politics before they could eventually run for a competitive seat.
In order to make this happen, she asserted that one or two nominations were sufficient.
"I am bringing legislation limiting the times a person can be nominated for a seat. It beats the purpose for which affirmative action was created if one person is nominated every election cycle," she asserted.
"The nomination serves as a launching pad, and once or twice is enough. After that, please go for a competitive seat."
What the Law Says About Nominations to Parliament
In accordance with the constitution, a total of 32 individuals are nominated to the Senate and the National Assembly by Parliamentary political parties each election year.
In the National Assembly, 12 members are nominated by parties, based on their proportion of members of the National Assembly, in accordance with Article 90, to represent special interests, including the youth, persons with disabilities and workers.
The Senate, on the other hand, takes the other 20 nominations made by Parliamentary political parties, also guided by the proportion of their electoral strength.
16 of these seats are given to women to ensure gender balance; two others, one of each gender, are nominated to represent the youth and the other two, also a man and a woman, represent people with disabilities.
Although a previously elected MP can be nominated to Parliament, it cannot happen in the same electoral cycle if she decides to vie for a seat and loses. There is also currently no limit on the number of times one can be nominated.
In the 13th Parliament, the Jubilee Party had nominated the former Murang'a County woman representative, Sabina Chege, after she decided not to vie for re-election.
The current National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, who previously served as the Suba South MP, was nominated to Parliament by ODM in 2022 before being appointed to the cabinet.
Currently, some of the most prominent Senate nominees who have not previously won an electoral seat are the United Democratic Alliance's (UDA's) Karen Nyamu and the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM's) Crystal Asige. Gloria Orwoba, on the other hand, recently lost her nomination following continuous criticism of her nominating party, UDA.
