Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has publicly defended his conduct and visibility in the National Assembly.
He pushed back against criticism that he is often silent during debates and rarely contributes on the floor of the House.
For a long time, Sudi has been the subject of online discussion and political commentary, with critics pointing to his limited participation in parliamentary debates and claiming it reflects negligence or a lack of confidence in handling formal parliamentary language.
Others have questioned his attendance record and overall engagement in legislative business.
However, speaking during an interview with content creator Propesa TV, Sudi rejected those claims and argued that judging an MP purely on how often they speak in Parliament gives a distorted picture of performance.
He said parliamentary debate is only one part of an MP’s responsibility and should not be treated as the sole indicator of effectiveness.
Sudi maintained that his priority has been direct development work in Kapseret Constituency.
He cited ongoing and completed projects, especially in the education sector, including support for schools, infrastructure improvements, and bursary programs for students from low-income families.
He added that different lawmakers contribute in different ways, noting that some focus on committee work, constituency follow-ups, and executive coordination rather than frequent floor debates.
The MP also dismissed suggestions that language barriers or fear of formal procedure keep him from speaking, saying he is comfortable with parliamentary processes but chooses to concentrate his energy where he believes it has the greatest practical impact for his voters.
“I always go, but I have a small weakness and it is not my mistake. I always go when there is serious business,” he said on Saturday, explaining why he is often quiet or absent during many parliamentary sessions.
He pointed to development projects in Kapseret, especially in the education sector, as proof that his focus remains on constituency work rather than constant participation in debates and sittings.
Kenyans have recently been scrutinising lawmakers’ participation in parliamentary debates and sittings, with attendance increasingly viewed as a key indicator of accountability and performance.
Sudi, however, argued that leadership should also be judged by tangible results at the grassroots level.
The MP highlighted his constituency’s education support programs, saying that since taking office in 2013, his team has prioritised identifying students in need through vetting exercises conducted in schools across Kapsaret.
The process, he said, helps spot high-performing learners who lack the financial means to continue with their education and enables targeted support.
According to Sudi, the constituency has established several new day secondary schools over the past five to six years to accommodate students who cannot afford boarding fees.
He added that day secondary school fees are now fully subsidised after partial support previously left some families unable to clear balances.
“We realised that middle school students were many, so we started day schools to help those who are incapacitated. In the last five to six years, I have started more than five new secondary schools,” he said.
“We have removed school fees for day schools. We are paying for them 100 per cent. When we were paying for them Sh7,000, some parents would not afford the three thousand. We decided to sponsor everything at the day schools in the constituency.”
Sudi maintained that constituency service remains his top priority and noted that each lawmaker plans and uses CDF allocations differently based on local needs. “Everyone sits down, analyses and solves the challenges they have.
That is how they get experience on how to deal with issues of their constituencies; that is why you cannot compare.
We are all getting the same allocation; it depends with how you plan it,” he said.
