Two Coast politicians have teamed up to rally their colleagues in Parliament to reject a proposed bill that sets a degree as the
minimum
requirement to run for a parliamentary seat.
Nominated Senator Emma Mbura and Matuga MP Hassan Mwanyoma
fear they will be locked out of the Rabai and Matuga
parliamentary races if the Election Laws (Amendment)
Bill is passed. They argue that many potential leaders will be
locked out.
The plan is to have Mbura rally as many senators as possible to
reject the proposed changes when it reaches the Senate. However, this might be a tall order for her as many senators
are learned and consider themselves the crème de la crème of Parliament.
Mwanyoha has been tasked with rallying mainly fellow
Coast MPs in the National Assembly to reject the proposal. The two say leadership is not about academic qualifications
but wisdom. They say the Kenyan education system is rotten and many
people buy degrees.
“The constitution says any Kenyan 18 years of age and above,
who are of sound mind, can run for election. Why do they want to insert a clause
that contravenes the constitution?” Mbura said. She spoke during the Requiem Mass of Rose Mwatsama at St
Paul's Church in Rabai on Saturday.
Mwanyoha said Coastal youth will be locked out of
leadership positions, as most are uneducated due to marginalisation and poverty. “There are many leaders I know who were brilliant in
Parliament but lacked degrees,” he said on Saturday. Mbura said the bill is biased against youth who 18 years and are yet to acquire degrees but posses leadership skills. She said she will use her gift of the gab to persuade fellow
politicians to shoot down the bill when it comes up for debate after
the month-long parliamentary recess.
