Candidates Seeking MP Seat Must Have University Degrees, IEBC Says

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that candidates seeking parliamentary seats in this year’s elections must have university degrees.

IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein in a statement on Thursday said only candidates with degrees from recognized universities will be cleared to contest for Member of Parliament (MP) positions in line with section 22(1)(b)(i) of the Elections Act.

“Unless declared unconstitutional by the Court, the degree requirement for Members of Parliament is in force and is trite law,” Marjan stated.

The official noted that those eyeing the Member of County Assembly (MCA) position will not be required to have a university degree following a High Court ruling dated October 15th, 2021.

“The Court effectively nullified the requirement that a person must possess a degree from a university recognized in Kenya to qualify to be a Member of a County Assembly. In the foregoing circumstance, there is no educational requirement in respect of MCA aspirants,” IEBC stated.

Presidential, Deputy President, Governor, and Deputy Governor aspirants are equally required to have degree qualifications.

“We wish to advise that the qualifications for President, Deputy President, Governor and Deputy Governor remain as they were in the General election of the year 2017,” Marjan added.