Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has weighed in on a proposal seeking to introduce a University degree as a mandatory requirement for anyone seeking elective positions in the country.
According to Babu, this proposal if actualized will lock many potential leaders out of the 2022 elections.
As a way of offering a solution, Babu Owino cheekily announced that that he’ll be selling his degrees and diplomas to those without relevant papers.
Babu Owino boasts of a good academic track record with one of his key achievements being graduating with first class Honours in Actuarial Science from The University of Nairobi.
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“Introduction of Degree as a condition to contest for positions in 2022 will be a challenge to many, as a result, I’m asking anyone without a degree certificate to buy one of my many Degrees .I have 6 Diplomas and 4 Degree certificates at an affordable price… First class honors in Actuarial science will cost you a leg and an arm plus a liver,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, the proposal has elicited massive reactions from political leaders across the country, with Deputy President William Ruto being among those who’ve opposed it.
Speaking on Thursday when he hosted Baringo MCAs at his Karen home, Ruto said he’s asked all lawmakers allied to him to push for the removal of the degree requirement for all elective and nominated positions.
“To say that MCAs should have the same qualifications as MPs and the same qualifications as members of executive in county governance and same qualifications for president is not to be reasonable and, therefore, Parliament is already reconsidering Section 22 of the Elections Act so that we can remove what in my opinion is unreasonable, so that we can have reasonable expectations of qualifications of all candidates,” said Ruto.
Early this week, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati noted that the polls body will not issue clearance certificates to any candidate wishing to content in the 2022 general election if they lack a university degree.
