Karua most impressive MP in Parliament, new survey shows

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By Oscar Obonyo

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua leads the pack of most impressive legislators, in and outside Parliament, over the last six months, says the latest Infotrak survey.

The Gichugu MP, an avid debater, tops parliamentary colleagues with an approval rating of 15 per cent. According to respondents of the survey, Karua emerges tops for having a nationalistoutlook.

She is also credited with upholding democratic principles and possessing an impressive record with regard to fighting for the rights of the common mwananchi as well as being intolerant to corruption.

Other outstanding performers, according to the survey, include Planning Assistant minister Peter Kenneth (11 per cent), Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, (eight), Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka (seven), and Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed (six).

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba (six per cent), Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale (six), Eldoret North MP (five), Garsen MP Danson Mungatana (five) and Lands Minister James Orengo (four per cent), complete the list of the top ten performers.

There is no denying the survey, which was carried out between June 25 and June 27, has some surprising results. Notable names of the very active legislators are missing in the top ten, while those of political heavyweights – some who have even skipped several parliamentary sessions – have made it to the list.

Several reasons are attributable to this factor, including the possibility of misinterpretation of the questionnaire or a deliberate move by respondents to pick out preferred presidential aspirants as best performers.

Indeed, the regional analysis of the top ten performers appears to give an inkling of this possibility. Except for Karua, whose highest approval ratings of 32 per cent, is drawn from residents of Nairobi, the rest enjoy the highest ratings from their native provinces. The highest marks for Uhuru and Kenneth, for instance, are from Central Province, at 20 and 18 per cent. The VP has 17 per cent approval rating from Eastern, Abdikadir, 10 per cent from North Eastern, while the highest scores for Namwamba and Khalwale are 15 and 14 per cent, from Western. Equally, Ruto, Mungatana and Orengo, recorded big support from their backyards.