The court Scraps University Degree Requirement for Presidential Candidates After Court Ruling: Electoral Commission
A university degree is no longer required to run for president, governor, or parliamentary seats, following a High Court ruling that declared the requirement unconstitutional, electoral commission head Ann Nderitu confirmed to local media
The court found the requirement discriminatory, noting that fewer than 4% of Kenyans hold university degrees, the commissioner explained.
Key Points:
The degree requirement was introduced in the 2011 Elections Act and applied to the 2013, 2017, and 2022 polls before being struck down in 2022.
Kenya’s presidents have had mixed academic backgrounds—Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Ruto hold degrees, while Jomo Kenyatta and Moi did not.
Nderitu indicated the commission intends to ask Parliament to establish clear minimum academic qualifications for elective offices.
Kenya joins Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Uganda in not requiring a university degree for presidential candidates.
For the 2027 elections, candidates must still meet other constitutional requirements, including Kenyan citizenship by birth.
