Marende was born in Mumboha village, Bunyore in the formerly North Nyanza District (part of it now forms Vihiga County) of former Western Province.

In 1974 he sat for his EAACE – East African Advanced Certificate of Education in Kagumo High School where he had been admitted for his A-Levels.

After leaving the UoN in 1978 he enrolled for Post Graduate Diploma Course at the Kenya School of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1979.

[4] In the 9th Parliament of Kenya , Marende was notable for supporting an amendment to the Sex offense bill that decriminalized marital rape.

He made the famous quote on the floor of parliament that "Kenyans can still have sex with their partners even when they are asleep so long as they are married".

[6] In April 2009, when parliament re-opened, he was forced to make a tough ruling on who should be the Leader of Government Business due to an impasse between the President and the Prime Minister.

In his historic ruling, he temporarily appointed himself, based on parliament standing orders as the Chair of the House Business Committee until the impasses is resolved.

His accolades and accomplishments as the man in-charge of Kenya’s legislature resulted in his appointment abroad as President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.