The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified that a university degree is currently not required for Kenyans seeking to contest for president, governor or Member of Parliament in the 2027 General Election.

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IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu said the position follows court decisions that declared the degree requirement contained in the Elections Act unconstitutional, meaning the commission cannot currently enforce it during nominations.

“As we start now, there is no requirement for a degree for anybody. That's the situation we are in,” Nderitu said during an interview on Citizen TV.

The clarification means aspirants without university degrees can seek elective positions in the 2027 polls, provided they meet the other constitutional and statutory requirements governing eligibility for their respective offices.

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Candidates must still satisfy requirements including Kenyan citizenship, registration as voters, nomination by a political party or qualification to run as independent candidates, and compliance with leadership and integrity provisions. They must also meet other requirements specific to the position they are seeking.

Nderitu added that the degree requirement had previously been challenged in court, with petitioners questioning whether requiring university qualifications for presidential, parliamentary and gubernatorial candidates was constitutional.

She said the courts considered Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination, as well as Article 10, which requires public participation in the making of laws and policies.

Further, the court also considered the number of Kenyans holding university degrees, citing the 2019 Census figure of 3.5 per cent. She said the ruling found that the requirement could effectively exclude the remaining 96.5 per cent of Kenyans from contesting for key elective positions.

“According to the ruling, it means that the rest of the Kenyan 96.5 per cent cannot participate in elections for governor, for president and for member of parliament. Meaning then, that is discriminatory,” she said.

She further explained that the degree requirement could be introduced again, but only through a proper legislative process that allows Kenyans to participate and give their views . “Unless now, maybe somebody will go to court, or we then start the process of public participation and now allow the degree process now to come through the proper public participation,” she said.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke