On Thursday, May 21, Citizen TV's Director of innovation and Strategy Linus Kaikai took on young legislators terming them a generational disaster.
While delivering the Kaikai Kicker during the broadcast, the anchor opined that most of the young leaders did not have a cause when they ran for office, rather taking on political sideshows to the top of their agendas.
"Most if not all of our young elected leaders constitute a generational disaster. Unlike any other generation of young leaders, the bulk of the current leaders stand for nothing specific when it comes to greater ideals and the making of nations," he stated.
He added that recent political developments especially in the Jubilee party revealed that the young leaders were inconsequential and indispensable support cast in the grand scheme of things.
Here is the video courtesy of Citizen TV:
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Kenyans.co.ke, reached out to a number of young legislators who termed the anchor's remarks as 'unfair and misguided.'
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino faulted Kaikai for generalising all the young MPs as sycophants without missions.
"He should not generalise all the young MPs because he doesn't know what it means to be one. Standing for something doesn't mean you fight constantly.
He added that he was performing his duty as the MP of Embakasi East adding that in the current period of crisis, he was distributing food to his constituents.
"People in Embakasi East haven't complained. Personally, I believe that as an MP my role is to fight for the fundamental rights of my constituents, which are education, good infrastructure, and clean water," he told our newsdesk.
Of a similar opinion was Saboti MP Caleb Amisi who added that a majority of young legislators were performing their duties diligently adding that they had pushed many pieces of legislation.
"A number of young legislators perform their duties through committees but since the proceedings are never aired, Kenyans don't get to see what is happening behind the scenes," he disclosed.
He added that the young MPs were very active in caucuses and even in international forums.
"People assume that the louder one is, the more work they are doing which is not true. You can be vocal in the chambers but you aren't contributing productively," he noted.
In 2019, a report from the Parliamentary Hansards records revealed that the best performing young MPs were Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Kimilili’s Didmus Barasa, Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia), Martha Wangari (Gilgil) and Fatuma Gedi (Wajir).
They were recognized for being active in terms of how vocal they were on the floor of the parliament.
