The Okongo Omogeni-led Senate Committee on Justice, Legal and Human Rights has approved the bill sponsored by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator's Kipchumba Murkomen, to scrap the degree requirement for MCA and MP positions.

The committee held a virtual meeting to deliberate on the Murkomen sponsored bill.

Murkomen seeks to have the Elections Act amended to enable a person who is able to read and write in English or Kiswahili and in the case of the deaf, are literate in Kenya sign language, to be nominated as MP.

He proposed the amendment of Section 22, Sub-Section 1 of the Elections Act by erasing paragraph B which states that a person must hold a degree from a recognized University in Kenya in order to be nominated as a candidate for election.

Murkomen believes that every literate Kenyan is eligible to vie for elective positions.

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The Senator based his argument on the discrimination in the section of the Election Act and how it impedes the interests of ordinary Kenyans passionate about serving the public in elective capacities.

“The provision as contained in the Elections Act is not only restrictive but discriminates against persons who may not have a degree as it implies that only persons who have a degree have the capacity to serve in public office,” said Murkomen

The committee said that the bill will see that Kenyans seeking elective positions are not left out on account of lacking such documents as degrees.

The committee also resolved that the two Bills had met the Constitutional threshold and approved them for publication.

The DP William Ruto recently weighed in on Murkomen's proposal and said it was unconstitutional for the electoral commission to make it compulsory for MCAs to have degrees to contest the county assembly post.