Kenya has scrapped the university degree requirement for presidential candidates the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed.
IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu stated that following High Court rulings that declared the degree provision in the Elections Act unconstitutional, there is currently no legal requirement for a university degree to contest the presidency, governorship, or parliamentary seats in the 2027 General Election.
“As we start now, there is no requirement for a degree for anybody. That’s the situation we are in,” Nderitu said.
Why this matters
– Only about 3.5% of Kenyans hold university degrees (2019 census data cited in the court process). Requiring one would have locked out the vast majority from seeking the country’s highest offices.
– The courts found the previous rule discriminatory and lacking proper public participation.
– Aspiring candidates without degrees can now clear the first major eligibility hurdle provided they meet all other constitutional and statutory requirements.
– The door remains open for Parliament (or fresh public participation) to reintroduce minimum educational qualifications in future.
This clears a long-running legal and political grey area just as the race toward the August 2027 polls begins to heat up.