NAIROBI, Kenya — More than half of the current Members of Parliament are unlikely to retain their seats after the next general election, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has said, citing findings from an actuarial report on parliamentary pensions.
Wetang’ula said the report, presented during a committee on pensions that he chaired, shows that the average attrition rate for MPs stands at 56 per cent — meaning a majority of sitting legislators will not return to Parliament after the next poll.
“An actuarial report shows that on average our attrition rate is 56 per cent,” the Speaker said. “So as we sit here, at least 56 per cent will not see the inside of Parliament next election.”
The Speaker noted that the high turnover highlights the uncertainty of political careers and underscores the need for structured support for lawmakers once they exit public office.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐇
According to Wetang’ula, Parliament must put in place mechanisms to ensure former legislators are able to sustain themselves after leaving office, stressing that life after Parliament should be dignified and economically stable.
He was speaking while presiding over the 2026 Legislative Retreat of the National Assembly at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County.
The retreat, convened under the theme “Securing Parliamentary Legacy: Delivering the Fifth Session’s Agenda and Preparing for Transition,” brought together legislators to reflect on priorities ahead of the final session of the current Parliament.
Wetang’ula also reminded MPs of their constitutional authority over public finances, urging them to exercise the “power of the purse” responsibly during the budget-making process.
He called on legislators to pay close attention to budget estimates and numerical adjustments, saying these should align with underlying policy priorities to ensure public resources deliver tangible impact.
