ODM MP Claims 13th Parliament Is 'Weakest' Since Independence

ODM MP Claims 13th Parliament Is ‘Weakest’ Since Independence

Caroli Omondi, a Suba South Member of Parliament, has criticized the 13th Parliament as an underperforming institution that has failed to meet expectations despite having ample resources.

Speaking freely during an interview on Monday, December 15, Omondi stated that his opinion was reasonable and based on actual experience.

He stated that Parliament’s issues are not superficial, but are deeply ingrained in the way the National Assembly runs.

MP Omondi highlighted several causes for the 13th Parliament’s poor performance, with political parties bearing the majority of the responsibility.

MP Caroli Omondi: Parliament has performed below the expectations of Kenyans. There is a challenge with political parties being captured by the state, and leadership is also weak. Incompetent people have found their way into Parliament #CitizenDayBreak pic.twitter.com/WVk1KP0R91
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 15, 2025

The Suba South MP accused political parties of hijacking Parliament and undermining the institution’s independence.

He claimed that political parties had transformed legislators into voting blocs rather than independent thinkers.

Furthermore, the MP said that political parties had encouraged the admission of inept individuals to the National Assembly, reducing debate to applauding and jeering rather than rigorous legislative review.

According to Omondi, MPs who wanted to collaborate beyond party lines, especially with the ‘opposition’, were frequently limited by party regulations that forbade cross-party involvement.

“Members who want to do their things, who want to work with other colleagues, cannot do it because of political parties,” lamented the first-time MP.

He went on to say that even competent legislators from prominent parties struggle to act successfully, suggesting that Kenyans discard the notion that strong leaders must belong to dominant political organizations.

He also chastised Parliament for squandering time, comparing its sessions to political rallies in which members monopolized the microphone with extended remarks that offered little legislative value to the proceedings.

He further expressed concern over prolonged delays in passing laws, arguing that the legislative process has become painfully slow.

“I have proposed eight bills in Parliament, only two are in the government printers, and it has been more than one year!” decried the parliamentarian.

Furthermore, he described the 13th Parliament as dysfunctional, citing the occasional blurring of lines between the Minority and Majority Leaders in the House.

Omondi finished his critique of the National Assembly’s performance by calling the vetting processes tasks in which legislators engaged in shockingly little consideration of subjects needing critical thinking.

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In contrast, the member was quick to point out that legislative personnel were not to fault.

Instead, he complimented them as some of the most professional and efficient public personnel he has encountered during his tenure in the National Assembly.

He also defended the Speaker, claiming that the office holder could not accept responsibility for Parliament’s shortcomings.

According to Omondi, the Speaker does not vote on legislation and is only as effective as the members of the House.

ODM MP Claims 13th Parliament Is ‘Weakest’ Since Independence