Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has taken a firm stand against politicians who continue to secure nominated seats in Parliament year after year without ever contesting in a competitive election.
In a statement posted on her social media on Wednesday, September 23, Odhiambo announced plans to introduce legislation that would cap the number of times an individual can be nominated to Parliament.
The MP argued that nomination seats were originally designed as an affirmative action tool a stepping stone to help underrepresented groups enter politics and eventually run for elective office. However, she believes that repeated nominations defeat that purpose.
“I am bringing legislation limiting the times a person can be nominated for a seat. It beats the purpose for which affirmative action was created if one person is nominated every election cycle,” Odhiambo said. “The nomination serves as a launching pad, and once or twice is enough. After that, please go for a competitive seat.”
Currently, Kenya’s Constitution allows for 32 nominated members in Parliament 12 in the National Assembly and 20 in the Senate with the selections made by political parties in proportion to their strength in the respective houses.
These nominations are intended to represent special interest groups, including youth, persons with disabilities, women, and workers.
In the Senate, 16 of the 20 nominated slots go to women to promote gender balance, with the remaining four seats shared between youth and persons with disabilities one man and one woman for each category.
While the law does not restrict the number of times a person can be nominated, it does bar a candidate from being nominated in the same electoral cycle if they contested and lost in the general election.
Despite this, several notable politicians have benefited from repeated nominations or appointments. In the current 13th Parliament, former Murang’a County Woman Representative Sabina Chege was nominated by the Jubilee Party after opting not to seek re-election.
Similarly, the current National Treasury Cabinet Secretary a former Suba South MP was nominated by ODM before taking up a Cabinet role.
Among the more high-profile nominated senators today are UDA’s Karen Nyamu and ODM’s Crystal Asige, both of whom have yet to win an elective seat.
Gloria Orwoba, also nominated by UDA, recently lost her seat following internal party disputes.
Odhiambo’s proposed bill, if passed, could significantly reshape how parties use nomination slots and perhaps push more politicians to seek a direct mandate from voters.