You will no longer require a degree certificate to be cleared to vie for Governor in any of the country’s 47 counties in future general elections, according to a decision by the High Court.

The court in Nairobi ruled that those seeking to vie for governor will not need to have a degree to be cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In his ruling issued on Friday, Justice Antony Mrima declared that section 22(2) of the Elections Act is unconstitutional.

The Elections Act stipulates: “A person may be nominated as a candidate for election as President, Deputy President, County Governor or deputy County Governor only if the person is a holder of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya.”

But Justice Mrima ruled that the section violates section 180 of the Constitution, which says that for one to eligible to vie for Governor a person must be eligible for election as an MCA.

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Justice Mrima ruled: “A declaration hereby issued that pursuant to article 180 sub article 2 as read with section 183 of the constitution.”

In his decision, Mrima said the requirement for one to be elected a Governor of a County is same as the suitability for one to be elected as a Member of the County Assembly (MCA).

He ruled that since one is not required to have a degree certificate to vie for MCA, the same eligibility applies to all those seeking to run for Governor in future elections.