Deputy President William Ruto has called for the scrapping of a clause of the Elections Act that requires MPs and MCAs to have degrees.
While terming the requirement as unreasonable, Ruto said the clause should be repealed to allow a majority of Kenyans to run for elective positions.
He argued that it is unnecessary to demand uniform academic qualifications from leaders running for different elective seats in the country.
“The Constitution prohibits any unreasonable restrictions being placed on the way of voters or candidates to be able to vie or vote in any elections,” said Ruto.
“To say that MCAs should have the same qualifications as MPs, Governors and even the President is not reasonable.”
He spoke on Thursday when he hosted MCAs from Baringo County at his Karen residence.
This week, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati said only those with degrees will be allowed to vie in 2022 in compliance with the Elections Act, 2011.
The act requires aspirants for all six elective seats to be holders of university degrees.
On Tuesday, two citizens—Anthony Manyara and John Wangai—petitioned the National Assembly to amend Section 22 (1)(b) of the Elections Act, 2011.
“The petitioners claim that the university degree requirement will make political leadership a preserve of the elite and will disenfranchise a number of good leaders who may not have been privileged to pursue higher education,” the petition reads in part.
The amended section of the act was set to take effect in 2017 but was postponed to 2022 to allow candidates eying MP and MCA positions to acquire the required academic qualifications.
This guy sound smarter than…
This guy sound smarter than dynasty boys
Most degree certificate are…
Most degree certificate are undercooked or fake
@Rotten Ruto love him or…
@Rotten Ruto love him or hate him he is Smart n he will beat the guy from the lakeside who speak with everybody before they die.He is now yapping n lying how kirubi spoke with him when he was crying like a baby to join kibaki 07/08 after killing n displaying many poor kenyans.Bure kabisa to this lord of poverty
Pursuit of higher education…
Pursuit of higher education is not a privilege if they want the hefty salary of being an MCA they can enroll for higher education and ask HELB for a loan instead of looking to poor Kenyans already overtaxed to pay them to get rich while doing nothing. No representation without education let them be cow herders and cattle dip chairmen. These are the same people physically fighting in Parliament when they do not get their way and looking for bribes because they did not learn how to disagree while still getting along
A lot of fakes from India…
A lot of fakes from India and Uganda: joho Sudi waiti2 Sonko. No need for this if they can read and write. Mca if they can do either mother or father tongue that suffice
I back Ruto on this because…
I back Ruto on this because I fail to see how adegree would chance these MCAs from what they are. Degrees do not translate to productivity,or good moral character.Besides that what degree is acceptable.Are we going to have a weighted average to determine the worthiness of their education?
May be they should all have a degree in divinity.Basic education is enough so long as the person has integrity,good worth ethics,leadership quality,and he/she knows how to uses human resources to full potential.
That’s mean the lakeside guy…
That’s mean the lakeside guy with welding diploma or lab certificate raila ondinga cannot vie for presidency but anaweza simama mca.Having a degree doesn’t qualify u to b a leader.We saw the degree idiots mpigs bin bribed with 10,000 ksh in toilets?They don’t pass laws which will benefit Wanjiku but when it comes to adding their salaries they passed it by 8am.The most stupid people I have come across r educated fools which r rude they talk highly about degrees they have but r stupid n lack wisdom.So to me let the Kenyans choose their leaders whether educated or not.Kidero had phd he stole billions/sonko not educated he helped many n cleaned up the city without a degree which kidero had n did no shit.George Washington had no degree/Tom mboya had no degree only diplomas/mzee jomo Kenyatta had diplomas or trainings but lead kenya out of the satanic immortals jaws of the evil british
I agree with him. If the…
I agree with him. If the qualifications can’t be the same for everyone, how about a master’s degree for governors, senators and MPs, and a PhD for the president? Problem solved