Law Requiring MPs and MCAs to Have University Degrees is Unreasonable, Says Ruto

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While terming the requirement as unreasonable, Ruto said the clause should be repealed to allow a majority of Kenyans to run for elective positions.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.