Mzalendo Trust Trust has launched the second edition of the People’s Shujaaz Awards to showcase and celebrate Parliamentarians that have excelled in championing issues of great public interest in both the National Assembly and Senate in 2015.

The legislators exhibited great leadership through sponsoring and contributing to bills; motions they put forward; statements and petitions they represented as well as committee reports tabled. Kenyans often bash Parliamentarians yet some of them are working hard to make the lives of Kenya better. The issues and list of nominees were arrived at through mining the Hansard and reviewing committee reports as well as the bills, motions, petitions and statements trackers.

The final list of nominees was agreed upon after consultation with civil society groups under the Parliamentary Initiatives Network (Kenya) umbrella that are issue specialists. Issues identified this year include: Financial oversight, Institutional oversight, mining, access to justice, devolution, education, health, special interests, security, progressive contributions, business and land.

The issues list also represents the 12 categories covered in this year’s awards. The 36 nominees include: Irungu Kang’ata for his HELB bill that the President refused to assent, Johnson Sakaja, Mutava Musyimi, Anyang Nyong’o, Wilfred Machage, Isaac Mwaura, Agnes Zani, Priscilla Nyokabi and Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

For the full nominee list here and also vote for your favorites. Online voting starts today, 17th November and runs until 9th December midnight. The 12 finalists will be announced on 11th December 2015 and each awarded a shield shaped plaque. Through People’s Shujaaz Awards, Mzalendo hopes that more people will learn the actual work of Parliamentarians, and sensitize the public on the need to keep their leaders to account. The awards complement the national honors the Presidency issues to Kenyans that have given to exemplary service to the country every year on Jamhuri day.