Kirinyaga Central Member of Parliament (MP), John Wambugu, has weighted behind degree requirement and insisted that integrity too is required.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, had announced that the Commission will implement Section 22 of Electoral Laws on the degree requirement.
Speaking at Gatuto Catholic Church in Kirinyaga the Legislator said that education is necessary but integrity also must be fully considered.
“In my view, I support the Law but electoral agency should ensure aspirants for political office have integrity in addition to university degrees,” he said.
However, he argued the Law needs to be interrogated further because it’s not fair and if so, possible should be amended.
“We should not gag people’s right to make choices during elections, they should be allowed to make choices,” he insisted.
This Law has not been seen to work elsewhere, and there are several global renowned leaders who did not have degrees.
“We have many successful leaders who became statesmen and didn’t have degrees,” Wambugu said.
On succession politics, the lawmaker further said the national assembly speaker has a right to vie for any seat in the country. This comes after Justin Muturi announced his intentions to vie for the presidency in the next general election.
“The Speaker has a right to vie for presidency like any other person,” he added.
By Mutai Kipngetich
