Amendments to the election law requiring legislators to have a minimum qualification of a university degree, has been met with livid criticism from various lawmakers. But when the president signs it, who will be affected?
Around 80 MPs are planning to petition the President not to sign the Statute Law (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill which bars non- university graduates from contesting for the senatorial and MP seats. In their last ditch effort to save their political careers, the MPs are using the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to persuade the President not to sign the Bill through which Parliament changed the Elections Act 2011.
The group is also mulling to move to the Supreme Court “to seek a constitutional interpretation on the relationship between academic qualification and leadership,” according to yesterday’s Sunday Nation.
Last Thursday, Mps amended Section 22 of the Elections Act to make it mandatory for those vying for parliamentary seats to possess a minimum of a university degree. This amendment which was spearheaded by Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo has holed the Parliament into two with some MPs supporting it while others, especially the casualties opposing it.
They feel that a degree should not be a yardstick for political leadership, as long serving MPs in the Parliament cannot be abruptly declared unfit for Parliament and Senate. If the President goes ahead and signs the Bill into Law, Government Chief Whip and Machakos Town MP Johnstone Muthama will be the main culprit. Muthama wants to vie for Machakos County Senator.
According to the Parliament website (Members of Parliament icon) Mr Muthama only holds a certificate in gemological and diamond grading system from Gemological Institute of America.
Other casualties include Raphael Letimalo (Samburu East), Gidion Kioko “Sonko” Mbuvi (Makadara), Clement Waibara (Gatundu North), Najib Balala (Mvita), Sheikh Mohammed Dor (Nominated- ODM), Joseph Kiuna (Molo) and Shakila Abdallah (Nominated-ODM K). Others include assistant ministers Beatrice Kones, Jebii Kilimo, Calist Mwatela, Gonzi Rai, Ramadhan Kajembe, and Wakoli Bifwoli.
According to the website, Tourism Minister Dan Mwazo holds a diploma from Riverstate University and a certificate from Rafriver College, while ODM Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh trained as a fashion designer at a college in England.
From the Office of Public Communications, Public Health Minister Beth Mugo holds several diplomas and certificates.
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