Most MPs are out of reach, survey shows
Majority of MPs are not accessible to constituents, according to a new survey. The report indicates a large number scored a poor E on accessibility. “With a 100 per cent score indicating full accessibility to the constituents, majority of the MPs would have scored an E grade on the excellent meter, 85 per cent of the legislators scored below 30 per cent. Only 15 per cent of the sampled MPs scored above 30 per cent,” the survey indicates. Only 32 MPs were sampled out of the 222 legislators in a survey conducted in 2011 and part of 2012.
Only five presidential hopefuls were included in the sample, Prime Minister Raila Odinga (Lang’ata), Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (Mwingi North), Deputy Premier Musalia Mudavadi (Sabatia), Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth (Gatanga), Martha Karua (Gichugu) late George Saitoti who was the MP for Kajiado North.
According to the report, Raila, Kalonzo, Mudavadi, Kenneth and late Saitoti scored below 50 per cent on accessibility but fared well on whether their constituents know them generally. Only Karua scored above 50 per cent on accessibility, same as MPs Charity Ngilu (Kitui Central), Danson Mungatana (Garsen) and James Rege (Karachuonyo). The report however notes that Raila, Kenneth, Karua and Kalonzo are now on Twitter as one way of reaching out to the constituents and public at large but Mudavadi and late Saitoti are indicated as among those without such accounts.
Others sampled and who scored poorly on accessibility were Kiraitu Murungi, Gitobu Imanyara, Beth Mugo, Elizabeth Ongoro, Lewis Nguyai, Esther Murugi, Otieno Kajwang, Farah Maalim and Chirau Ali Mwakwere.Others are Naomi Shabaan, Najib Balala, Mohammed Abdikadir, Linah Jebii, Margaret Kamar, Joshua Kutuny, Hellen Sambili, Wycliffe Oparanya, Moses Wetangula, Chris Okemo, Wilfred Machage, Sam Ongeri, Mohammed Kuti and Wavinya Ndeti.
The Survey was conducted by Article 19 East Africa supported by the International Development Research Centre. The organisation is a subsidiary of the Article 19 of London, a human rights organisation with a mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. The report is titled Right to Information and Parliamentary Accessibility, Accountability and Transparency. The group used general observations, field visits, training and focus group discussions as well as questionnaires as research tools.
On the knowledge of the area MP, the research found out that while a majority of the law makers are known by their constituents (94.4 per cent), only 36.8 per cent have the MP’s contacts. Only 35.5 per cent knew how their area MP could be contacted. About 63 percent neither had the MPs contacts nor knew how to contact the MP. “While it has been obvious to the area MP that once elected, they would be known to all of his or her constituents, the research found it not true. Extra measures including regular visits and engagement with the constituents would enhance the constituents’ knowledge of the MP,” the report indicates.
On the nature and extend of interaction, about 26 percent said they interacted with their MP officially while 37 percent interacted with their MP informally seeking personal favors, official undertakings or communal good services. “This implies that a majority of the constituents to some extend find informal ways of engaging with their MP appropriate as a bulk of their problems are considered informal,” the report reads.
On MP’s visit to their constituents 14.3 per cent of the respondents said their member visited at least once a week, 36.9 per cent said at least once a month while 58 per cent said that their Mp visited their area rarely. The report says this is an indication that a majority of the legislators rarely visit some parts, if not all parts of their constituencies.
On MP’s CV and manifesto, the survey shows that only 35.6 percent of the constituents knew their MP’s CV and manifesto and out of the 63.9 percent who did not know their MP’s CV or manifesto, only 20.4 percent sought to find information regarding the same. “This indicates that a majority of the constituents are not as informed about their member of parliament and that the basis of their voting is not entirely on a person’s CV or manifesto but on other factors as well,” the report notes.
On devolved funds, the report says an estimated 46 percent of the respondents said they directly benefited from the devolved funds. “In terms of impact and depth of service delivery, it implies an average satisfaction and feeling of involvement,” it adds. When asked to suggest what could be done to ensure MPs are accessible, the respondents said the MPs need to make more visits to their constituents. They also said MPs should establish a working phone where the member should personally receive the calls. They also said MPs should ensure they have working constituency offices.
The report also adds that through there have been many positive developments with regard to access to information in Parliament, 87 percent of the respondents still found it difficult to access the House and 79 percent of them found it difficult to participate in its proceedings. The positive developments cited include live broad casts of parliament and opening of House Committees to members of the public.
Also cited as positive step is the availability of Hansard reports on parliamentary proceedings and the re-launch of Parliament’s website. “Generally, only 27 per cent of the respondents had ever managed to visit Parliament. Of these, only 13 percent could access Parliament, 39 percent follow proceedings and only 21 per cent having participated directly in parliamentary processes,” the survey indicates. The report says an estimated 67 percent of the respondents indicated to have never participated in any parliamentary processes or engaged with Parliament.
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