Following the parliament chaos on Thursday in parliament, some Kenyans now want the number of MPs reduced.
A section of Western region residents want the size of Parliament trimmed by reducing the number of constituencies during the boundary review process ahead of the national census next year and the 2022 General Election.
According to Mr Robert Mukhwana Juma from Webuye, “There is no impact felt by the electorates in the effectiveness of the legislature at the national and county levels as the lawmakers have become self-seekers. The large number of positions for elected seats and nomination slots is feeding incompetence and inefficiencies in the assemblies.”
Currently the National Assembly,has 290 elected members each representing part of a constituency, 47 woman representatives from each of the 47 counties and at least 12 members nominated to represent women, youth and the marginalised, adding up to 349 MPs and Senate has 47 elected representatives from each county, 16 women nominated for gender balance and four slots for the youth and disabled, adding up to 67 members.
The country has 1,450 elected ward representatives and several nominated ones.
Mr Boniface Manda, the chairman of Bunge la Haki said “The dysfunction becomes clear from the confusion of MPs every time a matter of public concern comes to the floor of the House for deliberation. The Honourable members only become concerned with issues that touch on their salary and other funds under their control.”
In addition he said the wage bill is not sustainable and the government spending needs to be reduced by culling the number of MPs and scrapping off woman representative and nomination slots.
He wants the number of National Assembly members reduced to not more than 200 and senators maintained to 47 with only 13 slots reserved to ensure there is gender balance.