Suba South Member of Parliament Caroli Omondi has unleashed a no-holds-barred verdict on the 13th Parliament, telling it off as an underachieving institution whose output fell short of the resources and authority at its disposal.
This he said during an interview on Monday, December 15, 2025, adding that it was not because of political rivalry, but based on his experience since he is a sitting legislator. He argued that the challenges facing Parliament run deep and reflect structural weaknesses in how the National Assembly operates.
“It is not a superficial problem,” said Omondi, adding that the current Parliament was already struggling to live up to its constitutional mandate.
The first-time MP placed a large portion of the blame on political parties, accusing them of hijacking Parliament and costing it its independence. According to him, party domination has turned legislators into voting blocs, leaving little room for independent thought or meaningful debate.
The same is echoed by Omondi, who says political parties have opened the door for incompetent people in the House and compromised the quality of debate. “Serious legislative scrutiny in this House has increasingly given way to cheering, jeering, and political theatrics,” he lamented.
He further complained that those MPs willing to work across parties, even going the extent of engaging their colleagues from the opposition, are usually circumscribed by party rules that discourage such cooperation.
“Members who want to do their things, who want to work with other colleagues cannot do it because of political parties,” Omondi said.
The legislator further added that even capable MPs within major political outfits find it difficult to perform effectively, hence challenging Kenyans to look elsewhere and move away from the notion that good leadership has to come from dominant parties.
Omondi also criticized the use of parliamentary time, likening some House sessions to political rallies where members hold the microphone for long speeches that add little value to lawmaking.
He raised concern over what he described as painfully slow legislative processes from his own experience. “I have proposed eight Bills in Parliament. Only two are at the Government Printer, and it has been more than one year,” he said.
He further described the 13th Parliament as dysfunctional, citing moments where the distinction between Majority and Minority leadership has been blurred, weakening oversight and accountability.
He also attacked the way public officials were vetted, claiming legislators often showed “embarrassingly minimal reflection” in processes requiring critical thinking and rigorous scrutiny.
However, Omondi was keen to let off without censure parliamentary staff, describing them among some of the most efficient and professional civil servants he has dealt with.
He also came to the defence of the Speaker of the National Assembly, arguing that an office holder cannot be held responsible for Parliament’s shortcomings. According to Omondi, the Speaker does not vote on legislation and can only be as effective as the Members seated in the House. The remarks increase the growing public debate over the effectiveness of the current Parliament in delivering meaningful legislation and oversight for Kenyans.
