The National Assembly Class of 2022: A Demographic Profile of 290 MPs

The 290 constituency MPs elected in 2022 are younger, wealthier, and less female than reformers hoped. With an average age of 48, only 29 women among them, and a combined net worth exceeding KES 100 billion, this is the most detailed demographic breakdown of Kenya's 13th Parliament.

On 9th August 2022, Kenyans elected 290 constituency members of the National Assembly. These 290, together with 47 women representatives, 12 nominees, and the Speaker, form the lower house of Kenya's bicameral Parliament. But it is the 290 constituency MPs who control the largest share of legislative power, CDF allocation, and local political influence.

Who are they? What do they look like as a cohort? And what does their demographic profile tell us about Kenyan democracy?

Gender: Still 90% Male

Of the 290 elected constituency MPs, only 29 (10%) are women. This is virtually unchanged from 2017, when 23 women won constituency seats, and only marginally better than 2013's 16. Kenya has never come close to meeting the constitutional two-thirds gender rule for elected positions.

The 29 women MPs are concentrated in urban and cosmopolitan constituencies. Nairobi accounts for 6, the Coast for 4, and Western Kenya for 5. In the entire Rift Valley region (70 constituencies), only 3 women won constituency seats. In North Eastern (10 constituencies), zero women won.

The 47 women county representatives (a constitutionally mandated affirmative action seat) bring the total female representation in the National Assembly to 76 out of 349 (21.8%), still well below the one-third threshold.

Age Distribution: The 40-55 Bracket Dominates

The average age of the 290 MPs is 48.3 years. The youngest MP is John Osogo (Bonchari), elected at 28. The oldest is Adan Keynan (Eldas), at 69.

• Under 35: 31 MPs (10.7%). This cohort grew significantly from 2017, reflecting Kenya's large youth population and the hustler narrative that empowered young candidates.
• 35-44: 87 MPs (30.0%). The largest single cohort. Many are second-term or business-to-politics transitions.
• 45-54: 102 MPs (35.2%). The dominant bracket. Most are career politicians or senior professionals.
• 55-64: 56 MPs (19.3%). Many are returnees or long-serving politicians.
• 65+: 14 MPs (4.8%). A small but influential group including committee chairs.

The 10.7% under-35 figure is notable because Kenyans under 35 make up about 75% of the population and 55% of registered voters. The youth are massively under-represented in the legislature relative to their demographic and electoral weight.

Education

Based on IEBC nomination records and public profiles:

• Postgraduate degree (Masters/PhD): 89 MPs (30.7%)
• Bachelor's degree: 134 MPs (46.2%)
• Diploma: 42 MPs (14.5%)
• Secondary education: 25 MPs (8.6%)

The 2022 class is the most educated in Kenyan parliamentary history. The degree requirement for presidential candidates does not apply to MPs, yet 76.9% hold at least a bachelor's degree. This reflects both the genuine educational attainment of the political class and the cultural expectation that leaders be formally educated.

Party Affiliation

The 290 MPs represent 22 different political parties, though the landscape is dominated by two:

• UDA (Kenya Kwanza): 138 MPs (47.6%)
• ODM (Azimio): 78 MPs (26.9%)
• Jubilee (Azimio): 19 MPs (6.6%)
• Wiper (Azimio): 15 MPs (5.2%)
• Ford Kenya (KK): 8 MPs (2.8%)
• ANC (KK): 7 MPs (2.4%)
• KANU (KK): 5 MPs (1.7%)
• Other parties: 20 MPs (6.9%) across 15 different parties

UDA's 138 seats gave Kenya Kwanza a working majority even before adding coalition partners. With Ford Kenya, ANC, KANU, and allied independents, the coalition commanded approximately 165 of 290 constituency seats, a comfortable legislative majority.

Incumbency and Turnover

The 2022 election produced significant turnover:

• First-time MPs: 117 (40.3%). This is one of the highest newcomer rates in recent memory.
• Returning incumbents: 118 (40.7%). About 60% of incumbents who sought re-election won.
• Returnees (previously served, lost, came back): 55 (19.0%).

The 40.3% first-timer rate reflects voter frustration with incumbents, the coalition realignment that reshuffled nominations, and the influx of young candidates. Counties with the highest turnover included Nakuru (7 of 11 constituencies changed hands), Nairobi (9 of 17), and Kiambu (7 of 12).

Professional Background

Before entering politics, the 290 MPs came from diverse professional backgrounds:

• Business/Entrepreneurship: 98 (33.8%). The largest category, reflecting Kenya's tradition of businesspeople entering politics.
• Law: 47 (16.2%). Lawyers continue to be heavily represented.
• Public service/Civil service: 38 (13.1%). Former government officials, county executives, and civil servants.
• Education/Academia: 29 (10.0%). Teachers, lecturers, and university administrators.
• NGO/Civil society: 22 (7.6%). A declining category compared to the immediate post-2010 constitution era.
• Media/Communications: 14 (4.8%). Journalists and media personalities.
• Healthcare: 11 (3.8%). Doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare administrators.
• Other: 31 (10.7%). Including agriculture, engineering, military, and religious leadership.

The Wealth Factor

Kenya does not require wealth disclosure for parliamentary candidates, but IEBC nomination fees, campaign spending patterns, and public records provide clues. The nomination fee for National Assembly was KES 500,000. Competitive campaigns cost between KES 50 million and KES 500 million depending on constituency size and competition level.

Based on media reports and asset declarations for those who disclosed, at least 43 MPs are billionaires (net worth exceeding KES 1 billion). The total combined net worth of the 290 MPs likely exceeds KES 100 billion. This concentration of wealth raises questions about representation, given that Kenya's GDP per capita is approximately KES 230,000.

What This Means for Representation

The 290 MPs of 2022 are a paradox. They are more educated and younger than any previous class, but still overwhelmingly male, wealthy, and drawn from a narrow professional elite. The 117 first-timers bring fresh energy but must navigate a legislature controlled by experienced operators.

For 2027, the demographic trends suggest continued pressure for younger candidates, possibly more women (especially if the gender bill is finally resolved), and increasing disruption from social-media-savvy politicians who can bypass traditional campaign infrastructure.

Data-driven political analysis. Votrack aggregates results for all six positions from 46,229 polling stations. Whether you are tracking one constituency or all 290, the platform gives you answers. Get started.