Governor is the head of county who oversees all the activities happening in his/he county in Kenya and they are elected after every five years.

Kenya currently constitutes of 47 counties whereby each county should have a Governor.

According to the Constitution of Kenya, article 1 states all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.

Citizens have mandate to exercise this powers either directly or through democratically elected representatives.

All 47 governors have their union referred to as the Council of Governors (COG) that lays a foundation for consultation and working together among the county governments.

The Constitution of Kenya states that Governors can only be elected twice in a span of a five-year term limit.

What is Required to Become a Governor

In Kenya, for you to become the Governor you have to meet several requirements including constitutional, legal, and practical requirements.

1. Constitutional Requirements (Basic Qualifications)

The Constitution of Kenya (2010), in line with the Elections Act, states that a person must meet the following qualifications to become a governor

• Must have been Kenyan citizens for at least 10 years immediately preceding the date of elections.
• Must not owe allegiance to a foreign state.
• Must be eligible for election as a member of the county assembly.
• Must be a registered voter.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Is a holder of a degree from a University recognized in Kenya.
• Be nominated by a Political Party or be an independent candidate.
• Must meet the statutory moral and ethical requirements under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
• Must not be a public officer or acting in any State of public office other than a member of the County Assembly.
• Must not hold dual citizenship unless citizenship of the other country has been obtained by operation of law without the capacity to opt out.
• Must not be declared bankrupt.
• Must not be a person of unsound mind.
• Must not be subject to a sentence of imprisonment of at least six months from the date of registration of candidates or the date of elections. However, these disqualifications applied only if all possibilities of appeal or review have been exhausted.
• Must not have been found after due process, to have abused or misused state or public office or contravened Chapter Six of the Constitution.
• Must not have been dismissed or removed from public office (including by impeachment) for contravening the provisions of Articles 75, 76, 77 and 78 of the Constitution.

Also Read: Explainer: What It Takes to Become an MCA in Kenya and Their Roles

Disqualifications

You cannot run for a gubernatorial seat if you are:

• A public officer (civil servant, police, teacher, etc.) who has not resigned 6 months before elections
• A member of the IEBC.
• A judge or magistrate who has not resigned.
• A state officer who would create a conflict of interest.
• Serving a prison sentence.

Political Party Requirements

• You must win party nominations.
• You must adhere to the party constitution.
• You must get the party nomination certificate submitted to IEBC.

For Independent Candidates

• You must not be a member of any political party for at least 90 days before elections
• You must collect required signatures from voters in your county.
• A symbol approved by IEBC.
• A clearance from IEBC after meeting all qualifications.

Also Read: What it Takes To Be a Member of Parliament in Kenya

4. IEBC Requirements

During clearance, you must provide the following:

• ID card and voter’s card
• Academic certificates
• Tax compliance certificate
• Passport photos
• Payment of IEBC nomination fees

Candidates must also obtain clearance from:

• EACC (Integrity clearance)
• KRA
• DCI (Police clearance)
• HELB (if applicable)

A regular candidate who is not a youth, a woman, or a person with disability should pay Ksh50,000, while a candidate who is a youth, a woman, or a person with a disability is required to pay Ksh25,000.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and WhatsApp Community for instant news updates

Press Conference Held by The Council of Governors (CoG) of Kenya After a Consultative Meeting with KMPDU to Resolve Doctors Strike in Kiambu County. PHOTO/ KMPDU X