Qualifications and disqualifications for election as Member of Parliament in Kenya

By Juma / Published January 26, 2017 | 7:23 am

Elections are fast approaching and politicians are gearing up for various political positions. The incumbents want to defend their positions and the new entrants into the field claim to have heard the voice of the people and have come to inject what they call new blood in the political system.

According to Article 99 of the Constitution of Kenya, one who wants to become a Member of Parliament should fulfill the following:

(1) Unless disqualified under clause (2), a person is eligible for election as a member of Parliament if the person

(a) is registered as a voter;
(b) satisfies any educational, moral and ethical requirements prescribed by this Constitution or by an Act of Parliament; and
(c) is nominated by a political party, or is an independent candidate who is supported–

(i) in the case of election to the National Assembly, by at least one thousand registered voters in the constituency; or
(ii) in the case of election to the Senate, by at least two thousand registered voters in the county.

(2) A person is disqualified from being elected a member of Parliament if the person–

(a) is a State officer or other public officer, other than a member of Parliament;
(b) has, at any time within the five years immediately preceding the date of election, held office as a member of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission;
(c) has not been a citizen of Kenya for at least the ten years immediately preceding the date of election;
(d) is a member of a county assembly;
(e) is of unsound mind;
(f) is an undischarged bankrupt;
(g) is subject to a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months, as at the date of registration as a candidate, or at the date of election; or
(h) is found, in accordance with any law, to have misused or abused a State office or public office or in any way to have contravened Chapter Six.

(3) A person is not disqualified under clause (2) unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has been exhausted.

Related: Media Warned Against Biased Reporting on the General Elections

About Juma

Juma is an enthusiastic journalist who believes that journalism has power to change the world either negatively or positively depending on how one uses it.(020) 528 0222 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com

View other posts by Juma