Councillors reject degree condition

Councillors on Thursday unanimously opposed a proposed law that bars people without university degrees from becoming mayors.

An Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (Algak) meeting resolved to push for the removal of the clause in the draft Local Government (Amendment) Act that requires all those seeking to be elected mayors and chairmen of local authorities be holders of a degree from a recognised university.

Paid salaries

Under the chairmanship of Ol Kejuado county council chairman Taraiya ole Kores, the leaders also demanded that councillors be paid salaries and allowances from the Consolidated Fund just like MPs. Councillors are paid by their civic authorities, creating a situation where those from broke councils go for months on end without pay.

The proposed draft Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament by Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi once Parliament reconvenes calls for the scraping of non-viable councils. The Bill’s main highlight is the proposal that mayors and chairmen of local authorities be elected directly by the public.

At the meeting, the councillors demanded that the lowest level of devolved government be the previous 46 districts of the country and not constituencies. Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa promised to push for the removal of the clause, terming it discriminatory and undemocratic.

“To say that one must possess a degree from a recognised university is to set the standards too high. All one requires is the acceptance from the people he or she represents. It is undemocratic to lock out a good leader on the basis that one does not hold a degree,” Mr Wamalwa said to the applause of the councillors.

He also said he would mobilise fellow MPs to fight for the welfare of councillors, saying they were poorly paid, yet expected to shoulder the day-to-day needs of the electorate.