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House in uproar over skewed Performance Ranking

Members of the National Assembly have accused the research firm, Infotrak for skewed ranking in their latest post on the performance of Members of Parliament released on September 27.

In the polls findings released by the firm's Chief Executive Officer, Angela Ambitho, Emuhaya Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Omboko Milemba who scored 75.4 per cent was ranked as the best performing legislator, with his Emurua Dikirr counterpart, Hon. Johana Ngeno (71.4 per cent) and Mwala MP, Vincent Musyoka (70.8 percent) ranked second and third respectively.

While making their reactions over the poll in today's afternoon Sitting, Members expressed their disapproval in the manner the poll was carried out noting that the pollster did not provide the parameters used in the poll.

Following these concerns from Members, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Justin Muturi has now directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to write to the research firm asking them to avail information regarding the parameters used, the people interviewed and the size of the sample.

" The parameters must conform and have a bearing on the functions of a Member of Parliament serving in the National Assembly and must be based on the laws that govern the operations of a Member of Parliament", directed the Speaker.

Members have also called for the development of a regulatory framework to govern the development of opinion polls in the future.

"It is a high time we started regulating these opinion polls", noted Hon. David Gikaria

On his part, Nominated MP, Godfrey Osotsi called on the Parliamentary Service Commission to consider the introduction of coverage of House Committee Meetings live so that constituents can follow their Members of Parliament at work. Currently, the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit only broadcasts live proceedings of the Plenary sittings although there are plans to extend this to Parliamentary Committee meetings.

" Hearing the Members speak and express their concerns, this is a reawakening call on the Parliamentary Service Commission to do something on live coverage of committee meetings, and consider having an internal ranking system", he urged.

Hon Milemba observed that though he had been ranked differently before, it is after he recently publicly questioned the parameters of the performance ranking of Members of Parliament, that he recently polled at the top.

While citing the Infotrak poll as questionable, Dagoretti South MP, Hon. John Kiarie called on Parliament to start 'telling it's own story', adding that if Parliament does not tell its story, someone would.

The Infotrak survey was conducted between November and December 2019 and January 2020, and sought to rate the overall performance of their elected leaders. 

 

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