Kajiado MCA’s oppose law on academic qualifications

By KNA

A section of Kajiado Members of County Assembly in are up in arms against the proposal setting as a diploma the minimum academic qualification for an MCA.

The proposal by IEBC has caused anxiety with some of the MCA’s arguing leadership should not be pegged on formal education. If the proposal is passed into law, most of the MCA’s will not be eligible to seek re-election.

Pursuant to the proposed Elections Amendment Bill 2015 by the IEBC, it will be mandatory for members of the county assembly to at least be holders of a diploma certificate from a recognized institution.

Some MCA’s in Kajiado County have been considered influential in the politics of the county, despite their minimal academic qualifications or lack of formal education.

Only three MCA’s out of 25 are holders of a diploma certificate while two have degrees in a county assembly.

According to the county assembly Hansard some of the MCAs have never uttered a word in the assembly nor contributed to any motion. A section of MCA’s who declined to appear on camera claim the law is draconian and discriminative. Kajiado North MP Joseph Manje supporting the proposal says the law is overdue as MCAs should be learned to be able to oversight the executive.

Manje say it’s ridiculous for learned to be questioned by illiterate MCAs. Kajiado county governor David Nkeidenye also called for MCA’s to have academic qualification to ensure laws passed at the county level are beneficial.

The proposed law also makes it mandatory for Members of parliament to be holders of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university as a minimum requirement.

The current Elections Act states that only the president, deputy president, governors and deputy governors are required to be degree holders. The Constitution and County Government Act do not specify academic qualifications for MCAs.