LONGEST SERVING MP - KALONZO

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will Saturday mark 25 years as a Member of Parliament.

He made his debut in politics in 1985 when he won a by-election in Kitui North constituency, now Mwingi North.

Mr Musyoka has since been re-elected as the area representative.

He is the third oldest serving MP after President Kibaki and ODM chairman and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey. The President has been a legislator for 47 uninterrupted years. He was first elected MP for Bahati in Nairobi in 1963.

Mr Kosgey, the Industrialisation minister, has been in Parliament since 1979. But he was out of the House for one term after the infamous 1988 mlolongo (queue voting).

He made a comeback in 1992 in the first multiparty election. He has been in Parliament since.

Mr Musyoka replaced Mr Phillip Manandu, who was shot dead at Kyunzo in his Kitui North constituency.

To mark this lengthy parliamentary service, elaborate celebrations are planned at Mr Musyoka’s Tseikuru home town tomorrow.

There will also be a rally at Musila Gardens in Mwingi Town, at which President Kibaki is expected to be the chief guest.