Kisii County Ford People youth leader Dalmas Obiri has welcomed proposals to raise the minimum academic qualifications for elective offices in the 2017 general election.
Addressing the press in Kisii town, Obiri said the proposals are good and should be supported by all Kenyans as they will guarantee quality leadership.
“It is better if Members of Parliament and Members of County Assemblies are educated. When you elect somebody into an office and he or she cannot express themselves in Kiswahili or English and you expect them to make laws, that cannot work,” said Obiri
He also added that MCAs still have adequate time to go back to school if they wish to be elected in the next elections so as to be able to lead those who elect them.
Last week, while meeting the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Issack Hassan revealed of the commission’s proposed amendments to the Elections Act to require those vying as Members of Parliament to hold a degree from a recognised university and a diploma for Members of County Assemblies (MCA) for the 2017.
He also said that by 2022, all elective posts including MCAs shall be required to have degrees in order to qualify to vie.
The Elections Act states that the President, his deputy, Governors and their deputies should have a degree from a recognised university. However, the Constitution and County Government Act do not specify the academic qualifications for MCAs.