This article focuses on the qualifications and requirements for candidates seeking to be elected as members of parliament in Kenya (MPs). These qualifications also apply to Women Representatives (Women Reps).
Qualifications
- Must have been a Kenyan citizen for at least 10 years before the election.
- Must be holders of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya.
- Must not hold allegiance to a foreign state.
- Must be a registered voter.
- Must be nominated by a political party or be an independent candidate.
- Must meet the statutory moral and ethical requirements under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
- Must not be a public officer or acting in any state or public office other than a Member of Parliament.
- Must not hold dual citizenship unless citizenship of the other country has been obtained by operation of law without the capacity to opt out.
- Must not be an undischarged bankrupt.
- Must not be a person of unsound mind.
- Must not be subject to a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months from the date of registration of candidates or date of elections.
- Must not have been found to have abused or misused state or public office or contravened chapter six of the constitution.
- Must not have been dismissed or removed from public office for contravening the provisions of Articles 75, 76, 77 and 78 of the constitution.
- Nomination fees in a banker’s check payable to IEBC: 20,000 for candidates and Kshs 10,000 for a candidate who is a youth, a woman or a person with a disability.
Requirements
The candidate must submit the following documents to IEBC during nomination.
- A copy of ID/Valid passport or the document used by the candidate to register as a voter.
- A passport size photograph with white background submitted in electronic and printed copy.
- If a party candidate, a nomination certificate from a fully registered political party nominating the candidate, duly signed by an authorised official of the party.
- A duly signed and dated Code of Conduct (Second Schedule of the Elections Act, 2011).
- A duly filled commission nomination form, including an original statutory declaration form for purposes of nomination (Regulation 18(3) Elections (General) Regulations, 2012) and an original self-declaration form (Regulation 46 of Elections (General) Regulations, 2012).
Qualifications For An Independent Candidate
- A clearance certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties certifying that the person was not a member of any political party for the last 3 months before the elections; (Regulation 15(a) (General) Regulations, 2012.
- An electronic and a printed copy of a list of at least 1000 supporters in the prescribed form, submitted to IEBC.
- A duly filled Form of Intention to contest submitted to IEBC in the prescribed form.
- A symbol the candidate intends to use during the election, which has been approved by IEBC.
- Establish and maintain a functioning office in the respective electoral area where the candidate is contesting. The office must be available for inspection by IEBC 45 days before the elections. The address, including the physical address of the office, must be communicated to the commission.
Check out: List Of Members Of Parliament in Kenya
