Claiming the space: The inclusion and participation of the youth in Kenya's 11th and 12th Parliaments

Overall, youth MPs comprised 9.8% of the total membership of Parliament during the 11th Parliament and
dropped to 7.7% during the term of the 12th Parliament. The largest drop was in the number of nominated
youth MPs, from ten to five, marking a 50% drop, with the number of elected youth MPs dropping by 13%
from thirty-one to twenty-seven.
Leadership Roles Exercised by Youth MPs
There are several levels of leadership roles in Parliament, starting with the Parliamentary Service
Commission (PSC), 100 which is responsible for the overall functioning of the institution of Parliament,
House leadership positions, leadership of Committees, membership of the Speakers Panel responsible
During for presiding both over the the 11 th House, Parliament and leadership and the of delegations 12 th Parliament, to inter-parliamentary there has been organizations. one youth MP
serving in the PSC, namely Hon. Gladys Wanga and Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot, respectively.
During both the 11th Parliament and the 12th Parliament, there has been one youth MP serving in the
This is critical for ensuring that youth have a seat at the apex body in Parliament, and that
PSC, namely Hon. Gladys Wanga and Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot, respectively. This is critical for ensuring that
the unique needs and interests of youth MPs are ably canvassed at the Commission.
youth have a seat at the apex body in Parliament, and that the unique needs and interests of youth MPs are
ably canvassed at the Commission.
In terms of House leadership positions, the key roles are those of the Speaker and Deputy
Speaker; Majority Leader, Minority Leader and their deputies; Majority Whip, Minority Whip
In terms of House leadership positions, the key roles are those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker; Majority
and
Leader,
their
Minority
deputies;
Leader
as
and
well
their
as members
deputies; Majority
of the Speakers
Whip, Minority
Panel/Presidium
Whip and their
who
deputies;
assist
as
the
well as
Speaker members in of presiding the Speakers over Panel/Presidium the respective who House. assist During the Speaker the 11 in th presiding Parliament, over the youth respective MPs held House.
the During positions the 11th of Parliament, Deputy Majority youth MPs Leader held the 101 positions and member of Deputy of Majority the Speakers Leader 101 Panel and member 102 in the of the
Senate. Speakers In Panel the 12 102 th in Parliament, the Senate. In youth the 12th MPs Parliament, hold the position youth MPs of hold Deputy the position Minority of Leader Deputy 103 Minority
the Leader Senate.
103 in the Senate.
At At the Committee level, seven seven youth youth MPs served MPs served as Committee as Committee chairpersons chairpersons at various points at various during the
points 11th Parliament, during the as 11 set th out Parliament, below: - as set out below: -
Member House Committee
Hon. Soipan Tuya, MP National Assembly Implementation
Hon. Sabina Chege, MP National Assembly Education, Research and Technology
Hon. Priscilla Nyokabi, MP National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs
Sen. Kipchumba
Senate
Devolved Government
Murkomen, MP
Sen. Stephen Sang, MP Senate Delegated Legislation
Hon. Johnson Sakaja, MP Joint Committee National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity
Sen. Naisula Lesuuda, MP Joint Committee Parliamentary Broadcast and Library
In the 12th Parliament, Sen. Sen. Samson Cherarkey chairs chairs the Senate the Senate Committee Committee on Justice, on Justice,
Legal Affairs
Legal and Human Affairs Rights; and Human Sen. Johnson Rights; Sakaja Sen. chairs Johnson the Senate Sakaja Committee chairs on the Labour Senate and Committee Social Welfare on and
Labour is vice-Chair and Social of the Senate Welfare Committee and is vice-Chair on National of the Security, Senate Defence Committee and Foreign on National Relations; Security, while Hon.
Defence Naisula Lesuuda and Foreign chairs Relations; the National while Assembly Hon. Committee Naisula Lesuuda on Regional chairs Integration. the National Assembly
Committee on Regional Integration.
Sponsorship of House Business
Sponsorship of House Business
Youth MPs contribute to the legislative and representative mandate of Parliament by sponsoring and
Youth debating MPs Bills, contribute sponsoring to Motions the legislative for resolution and on representative various topical mandate issues, addressing of Parliament Questions by or
sponsoring requests for and statements debating to Bills, Cabinet sponsoring Secretaries Motions and House for Committees, resolution on and various through topical the submission issues, of
addressing public petitions Questions on issues and or requests concerns brought for statements on behalf of to their Cabinet constituents. Secretaries and House
Committees, and through the submission of public petitions on issues and concerns
brought 100 The Commission on behalf is established of their at constituents.
Article 127 of the Constitution and is responsible for, among others, providing services and facilities
to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of Parliament; constituting offices in the parliamentary service, and appointing and
supervising office holders; and preparing and exercising control over budget of Parliament.
While Members of Parliament also participate in the work of Committees, it was not possible
101 Sen. Kipchumba Murkomen, MP
to 102 assess Sen. Stephen their Sang, contribution MP within the context of this study. This was due to challenges in
accessing 103 Sen. Beatrice data Kwamboka, from MP Parliament on Members’ attendance of Committee sittings, as well as
minutes and Hansard records of the committee sittings which would indicate their
24 CLAIMING THE SPACE:
contributions during the meetings. Further, the study did not cover the contributions of
Members outside Parliament, for instance in implementation of projects under the National