We don't need an MP who can't support us in Visa to Turkey!

A few months ago, a group of friends and I visited a friend who had just recently wedded. As we were discussing a range of issues, a well-known MP who lost his seat popped up in the discussion. The MP who lost his seat has been representing his clan since 2009. He was a heavyweight politician who played a major role in successive governments. A friend asked why such an MP who is informed and has a good understanding of the complexity of Somalia states building process was replaced by an unknown novice who is a newcomer to Politics? He was rebuked by two friends from the former MP's clan. "Marabno xildhibaan aan Visa Turkey soo Saari Karin ( We don't need an MP who can't support us in Visa to Turkey)," they said.

I had a convo with friends over the last few years where I asked how do they evaluate their MPs? Their response was almost unanimous, and they said they wanted their MP to do a job that is not his formal job. The MP's job is to make and pass laws and oversee the executive, among other things. The clans expect their MP to buy school fees and medical bills, dig walls, seek scholarships for students from his clan, help their employment in government jobs.His thousands dollar salary can't cover all these expenses. The MPs often spend more on their constituents than they earn through their salaries.The MP doesn't have an office and budget to support his constinucey. Somalia doesn't have the luxury to create Constituency Development Funds.

The clans want their MPs to fill the gap left by the state by building schools, health centres, roads. They rarely expect any service from the state. Some MPs build schools or dig walls for their constituency from their salary to get their blessings at the time of election. Informal role matters more to constituents than passing laws. So as an MP, your are required to perform dual jobs: formal parliamentary jobs like making and passing laws and informal ones. Since the citizens can't get the government service fairly, they are pushed to get support from their clansmen. You will never be able to get a government job, scholarship, or passport without your MP or minister's intermediation.

In every election, new MPs are elected with no experience in Parliament. Few of them are interested In making laws.NGOs sponsor most laws approved by the Parliament. You would never see parliamentarians tabling laws that are important for the country. You would rarely see an MP who can perform both Formal and Informal roles. Some MPs actively participate in parliamentary debates, while some prefer to perform informal roles that are important to their constituents. Others are not good at both Formal and Informal.

The clans want their MP to do informal jobs, while the country needs MPs working on the legislative agenda. The MPs should strike a balance between serving their constituents and the country.