While Other Politicians Get Roasted On Twitter Over Corruption, Here Are 12 Politicians Kenyans Love and Adore

After 23 days of Kenyans voting for their favorite Parliamentarians in 12 categories of the People’s Shujaaz Awards, Mzalendo Trust today unveils the finalists.

In no particular order, the finalists are:

Category 1: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Education – Sen. Agnes Zani

In a motion, Sen. Zani presented called on the Ministry of Education to review the categorization of public secondary schools and classify all of them as county schools to ensure equity in resource allocation and guarantee quality education for all.

Category 2: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Progressive Contributions – Hon. Joyce Lay

Hon. Lay put forward a motion calling for the National Council for Law Reporting to progressively translate the laws of Kenya into Kiswahili which was adopted.

Category 3: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Special Interests – Hon. Isaac Mwaura

Hon. Mwaura presented a petition calling for the construction of a footbridge on Waiyaki Way to link ABC Place Bus Stop and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities Office. The NCPWD promotes the rights of persons with disabilities in Kenya amidst disability issues in all aspects of national development.

Category 4: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Land – Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

Hon. Mutula Kilonzo Jr. recommended the Senate enacts a Bill to address historical land injustices to provide a framework to ensure that land is properly utilized for the economic benefit of the affected communities.

Category 5: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Business – Hon. Tom Kajwang

Hon. Kajwang sponsored the Company Act 2015 which ensures Wanjiku or Adhiambo can simply go to the Registrar, get prepared forms, fill them, deposit them with the Registrar and she will have a business vehicle that she can use for trade. The bill makes company registration wananchi -friendly. You do not have to have a lot of wealth or complicated business systems to have a running company.

Category 6. Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Security – Sen. Fatuma Dullo

Sen. Fatuma Dullo presented the human-wildlife conflict case between the Kinna Community of Isiolo County and wildlife at Meru National Park has escalated over the years. The conflict has led to tension between the community and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) which the community accuses of kidnapping, shooting, torturing, wounding and even killing members of the community. She pushed for a Senate fact-finding mission to the area to ensure the matter is resolved. The resolution of the matter would inform similar cases across the country.

Category 7: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Financial Oversight – Hon. Ali Rasso Dido

Hon. Dido is awarded for his contribution to the Excise Duty bill calling for fairness in taxation of goods that Kenyans depend on daily. He said Parliamentarians must ensure public tax money is not wasted, pilfered and or stolen by individuals.

Category 8: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Institutional Oversight – Sen. Prof. Anyang Nyong’o

Sen. Nyongo pushed for the establishment a Select Committee in Senate to conduct an inquiry into the affairs of the Kenya Airways Limited and its subsidiaries and report to the House. The committee has already started meeting and the issue is of great public interest.

Category 9: Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Mining – Hon. Francis Nyenze

Hon. Nyenze is recognized for his contribution to the Petroleum Bill 2015 that sought to limit the privileges that the Cabinet Secretary enjoyed negotiating mining contracts. The responsibility was given to a board instead.

Category 10. Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Devolution – Sen. Mutahi Kagwe

The award acknowledges Sen. Kagwe’s in defending Counties budgetary allocations as presented in the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2015. He was part of the Senate mediation team that negotiated with the National Assembly and saw the county allocations increase.

Category 11. Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Health – Hon. Cyprian Iringo

Hon. Iringo presented a petition seeking to allow the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals  to represent its members in the NHIF Board in order to play a leading role in driving provision of quality healthcare throughout the country. The petition also sought to compel NHIF to involve all bona fide healthcare providers in consultative discussions on all aspects of service contracts, and to strictly adhere to contracts concluded with healthcare providers and be ready to compensate the provider, among other key issues.

Category 12. Wanjiku’s Best Representative – Access to Justice – Sen. Amos Wako

Sen. Wako receives the award on behalf of the Legal Affairs committee in the senate which issued a report calling for a law to strengthen the Commission for Administration of Justice (Ombudsman) office. The committee also called on the CAJ to open offices in all the counties and leverage on technology to improve their accessibility and efficiency in handling public complaints.

People’s Shujaaz Awards is an initiative to celebrate Parliamentarians that have excelled in championing issues of great public interest in Parliament – the National Assembly and Senate. As the People’s representatives Parliamentarians are obligated to champion public interests, defend Kenyans rights and ensure justice for all in all sectors of society. For Kenyans to dwell in unity, peace and liberty must be guaranteed to all with no prejudice and at the center of this is resource sharing, one of the core tasks of Parliament.

 The People’s Shujaaz Awards complement the National Honours the Presidency bestows on Kenyans that given exemplary service to the country every year. Mzalendo Trust will award each of the People’s Shujaaz Awards finalists will get a small plaque in the shape of a shield with the name of the category in which they won. The awards will be distributed through personalized courtesy calls to the Parliamentarians in their offices.