Public trust at stake: Martin Oloo calls out lawmakers’ self-serving behaviour
By Aloys Michael, August 28, 2025Governance expert and advocate Martin Oloo has criticised Members of Parliament and the national government for what he terms a failure to uphold the true spirit and responsibilities outlined in the Constitution.
In an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Oloo called out lawmakers for reducing their legislative mandate to a ceremonial function, accusing them of misunderstanding their constitutional role.
“Our challenge as a country has not been in the word ‘independence,’ but in our fidelity, belief, and practice of the responsibilities the constitution has given us. So, when an MP says they passed a law ‘for you,’ it suggests they are acting like robots who do not understand their true role,” he argued.
His remarks come at a time when public trust in Parliament continues to decline, with critics accusing MPs of self-serving behaviour and detachment from the needs of ordinary citizens.
Oloo emphasised that the work of legislators should go beyond rubber-stamping laws and instead reflect active engagement, oversight, and accountability to the people.
“There was an MP who stated that there is no space for debate in Parliament when passing bills, because only a few members are allowed to speak before the bill is passed. The truth of the matter is that this Parliament is too shallow and unwieldy, and it lacks the capacity to fully appreciate its role,” he scoffed.
He further took issue with the government’s ongoing promotion of so-called empowerment programmes, which he argued are tokenistic and fail to address the root challenges facing the country.
“The government is going around promoting so-called empowerment programs, but you cannot truly empower people by giving them tokens. The government needs to understand that we are a country with fundamental needs, and it’s those basics that must be prioritised and addressed,” Oloo stated.
The critique pointed to persistent challenges such as unemployment, inadequate health care, education gaps, and food insecurity as issues that demand urgent and sustained policy action, not temporary handouts or publicity campaigns.
Oloo strike at the heart of growing frustration among Kenyans who feel neglected by both national and local leaders, even as the cost of living continues to rise.
He called on leaders across the board to reconnect with their constitutional mandates and focus on substantive governance.
“We need leadership that not only understands the Constitution but also lives by its values, leadership that puts the needs of Kenyans first,” he said.