Baringo county assembly members and Governor have began an onslaught on electoral body on degree requirement to qualify for an elective position terming it backward.
Speaking today at Baringo assembly during the commissioning of elevator, majority chief whip said leader Reuben Chepsongol said leadership is about wisdom and not education terming the IEBC directive ill advised.
Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis also lashed at IEBC directive saying leadership should not be measured of education papers but the ability of a leader to lead with integrity.
But deputy Governor held a different opinion arguing leaders to be of good example for young generation to emulate and by them denying decrees was sending a wrong signal to youths
28 MCAs out of 47 in Baringo county assembly don’t have degree thus opposing the requirement, with debate in Baringo county assembly below par.
IEBC chair Wafula Chibukati rattled Mps and MCAs when he said that the clause 22 of the elections act requiring the members of parliament and the members of the county assemblies to have degrees will be implemented in 2022.
However, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to lead the house in throwing out that amendment. According to Murkomen, all that a leader needs is to be able to read and write.
“The purpose of this bill is to amend the Elections Act No.24 of 2011 to enable a person who is able to read and write to be nominated as a candidate for elections as a Member of Parliament,” the draft amendment bill reads in part.
On his part, Ruto said the clause is discriminative against Kenyans who have leadership skills yet lack the educational requirments.
“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 DP Ruto on Thursday.
“To say that MCAs should have the same qualifications as MPs, Governors and even the President is not reasonable, already we have Parliament reconsidering Section 22 in the Elections Act so that we can remove what the law provides today that in my opinion is unreasonable restrictions on candidates that want to be elected,” he said.
