Buyu and Wanga top list of best performing Woman Reps
Mercy Mwai @wangumarci
Kisumu Woman representative Riza Buyu is the best performer among the 47 Woman Representatives while Kiambu’s Gathoni Wamuchomba is the worst performer, a new report shows.
The report released by Infotrak Research and Consulting on the 2019/20 Performance Index for MPs and Woman Representatives puts the overall performance of the 47 Woman Reps at 47.7 per cent.
Infotrak Research and Consulting Director Angela Ambitho said that with the exception of Members of the County Assembly (MCA) ratings, where the ratings of all ward-reps within the county was consolidated into one overall index, the ratings of all the other elected leaders within the county, are individual ratings and depend on their engagement with their electorate.
Engagement
“Whilst all elected leaders have elaborate job descriptions, the fact that they sought the mandate of the electorate means that perception of their performance, should be largely determined by their engagement with the same electorate,” she said.
According to the report, Wamuchomba is followed by Janet Nangabo (Trans Nzoia) having scored 39.6 per cent.
Others in the bottom 10 are Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira) with 39.6 per cent, Liza Chelule (Nakuru) with 40.3 per cent.
Rehema Hassan (Tana River- 41.5 per cent, Florence Kosgei (Kericho- 41.6 per cent, Mohammed Asha Hussein (Mombasa-42 per cent, Safia Adan (Marsabit-42.5 per cent, Tecla Tum (Nandi-42.6 per cent and Jane Wanjuki (Embu) at 42.6 per cent.
Wamuchomba, who is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Woman Rep, is also the chair of Kenya Women Parliamentary Association.
Homabay’s Gladys Wanga with 61 per cent and Lamu’s Ruweida Obo with 60 per cent closed the ranks of the top three best performers.
Wanga, who is a second term MP, recently benefited from the handshake between ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru and was appointed as the chairperson of the Finance Committee, becoming the first woman to hold the powerful position since independence.
The position was previously held by Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo, who was removed during the recent purge in Jubilee Party.
The other top seven in the top 10 list include Samburu’s Maison Leshoomo with 59.10 per cent, Makueni’s Rose Museo at 57.60 per cent), Kwale’s Zuleikha Hassan ( 57.20 per cent, Meru ‘s Kawira Mwangaza 56.60 per cent, Murang’a Sabina Chege with 55.80 per cent, Tharaka’s Beatrice Nyaga at 53.30 per cent and Kirinyaga’s Purity Ngirici at 52.10 per cent.
Leshomo and Museo are members of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) committee that was appointed to spearhead reforms in the Constitution.
Vocal leaders
Interestingly, vocal leaders such as Wajir’s Fatuma Gedi have been ranked at position 22 with 46.3 per cent, Kisii’s Janet Onge’ra at position 27 with 45.6 per cent, Uasin Gishu’s Gladys Shollei at position 30 with 44. 7 per cent and Laikipia’s Catherine Waruguru at position 31 with 44.6 per cent.
With regards to performance of second time woman representatives, the report ranks Wanga and Museo as among the best performers, having improved from the 2015 score.
Others who have improved are Mutua, Narok’s Roselinda Soipan Tuya and Leshoomo.
With regards to ranking by regions, in Central region Chege is ranked as the best performer with Wamuchomba being ranked as the worst with 39 percent, in Coast region Obo is leading with 60 per cent and Hassan is the worst performer with 41.5 per cent, in Eastern Region, Museo has been ranked as the top with Adan being ranked as the worst performer with 42.5 per cent.
