Image@ Reuters
Kenya’s electoral authorities have confirmed that aspiring presidents, governors and Members of Parliament will not need university qualifications to contest the 2027 General Election.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said it cannot enforce the previous academic requirement following a court decision that struck down the relevant provision of the Elections Act.
IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu explained that, under the current legal framework, any Kenyan who meets the remaining constitutional and electoral conditions is eligible to seek the three offices regardless of their educational background.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Nderitu said the commission would follow the existing judicial position unless Parliament lawfully changes the rules.
The dispute dates back to a legal case brought before the 2022 elections.
The court ruled that the degree condition was inconsistent with constitutional values, including equal treatment and citizen participation in governance.
Nderitu also pointed to Kenya’s limited number of university graduates.
She cited the 2019 census, which indicated that roughly 3.5 per cent of the population had obtained university degrees.
She argued that retaining the academic threshold would effectively exclude the vast majority of citizens from seeking the presidency, governorships or parliamentary seats.
However, the commissioner stressed that the ruling does not prevent lawmakers from considering educational standards in the future.
Any effort to introduce such a qualification again would have to undergo the required legislative procedures, including consultation and public participation.
Nderitu said Parliament has constitutional authority to establish eligibility conditions for elected positions, but until a new and legally valid provision is passed, possessing a university degree will not be among the mandatory criteria.
The development comes as political parties and potential contenders begin positioning themselves for Kenya’s 2027 national elections.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong