This commentary says Parliament has lost sight of the public interest, with lawmakers more focused on money, perks and quota politics than on the daily struggles facing ordinary Kenyans.
The piece opens with a harsh rebuke of MPs, accusing them of turning the House into an expensive spectacle while ordinary people face hardship. It says President Uhuru Kenyatta had recently urged parliamentarians to put the common man first, but argues that the appeal is unlikely to change anything.
One example cited is Lucy Wambui, a pupil at Mwitinga Primary School, who died of rabies last month because her parents did not have medical cover or the money to buy anti-rabies drugs. The article contrasts that tragedy with MPs’ own Sh10 million medical cover, saying lawmakers have not addressed the case and are instead seeking even more money for their health benefits.
The writer also points to wider public frustrations, including maize farmers in the Rift Valley who have been left chasing payments from government and commuters struggling after the reintroduction of the Michuki rules. According to the article, transport users have been left exposed to matatu cartels because there are too few compliant public service vehicles and no effective protection from the state.
From there, the argument shifts to MPs’ salaries. The article says legislators already earn about Sh1 million a month, excluding what it calls false claims, yet still spend time on debates over the two-thirds gender rule instead of dealing with urgent national problems. It describes that discussion as sterile and says Parliament should be focusing on the medical sector, transport, and other failures that affect ordinary citizens.
On the question of women’s representation, the writer rejects the idea that quotas alone will transform women’s lives. It names Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu, Joyce Laboso, Millicent Adhiambo, Grace Ogot and Dr Sally Kosgei as examples of women who rose through their own effort rather than through special rules. The article also argues that some nominated female legislators appear too eager to please men and too reluctant to lead boldly.
The commentary says real empowerment for women must begin long before Parliament, inside homes, schools, churches and communities. It argues that many Kenyan communities still treat women as ornaments and deny them a say over sexuality, marriage and other personal choices. In that view, the fight for equality is cultural as much as political.
To underline the point, the article says helping Mary Kamanthe Mutua, a bright pupil who scored highly in this year’s KCPE, raise Sh3 million for cancer treatment abroad would do more for women and girls than political games over nominations. It adds that the two-thirds gender rule, even if achieved, would not automatically benefit deserving women because men often resist challenges from women.
The piece closes by saying women do not need favours from men because they already have the numbers to change society. It quotes Alice Walker and Denise Clarke on women’s power and leadership, then identifies the writer as Mr Chagema, a correspondent at The Standard.
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