Named and shamed: The Kenyan MPs who didn't speak

Audio By Carbonatix

Twenty-one Kenyan legislators did not utter a single word in parliament in the last session, which lasted almost a year, an organisation that monitors parliament in the East African nation says.

The list, compiled by Mzalendo, which means "Patriot" in Swahili", is dominated by men, with 16 male MPs and one male senator failing to speak.

Two of the MPs - Oscar Sudi and Samuel Arama - have made zero contributions since 2017.

On Twitter some said it mattered less if an MP failed to talk if they developed their constituency, but others said the views of those who elected a politician needed to be represented in parliament.

Caroline Gaita, who heads Mzalendo, told BBC's Newsday programme that the annual Scorecard report, which was released on Wednesday, looked at the quality of contributions to parliamentary debate in 2019.

She said it was a way of enforcing the social contract between the MPs and the electorate.

Kenyan MPs are among the most well-paid legislators in the world, earning more than $6,000 (£4,700) a month.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Tags:

Kenya

Members of Parliament