From 1999 to 2007 Kenny was List MP for the Lothians. He then won the Edinburgh East & Musselburgh constituency, following up with victory in the new Edinburgh Eastern seat in 2011. In 2014, with Nicola Sturgeon becoming leader, Kenny was not included in the new administration. The major issue he had to deal with, in his Justice role, was the release of al-Megrahi who had been convicted of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Kenny became MP for East Lothian at the 2019 General Election.