The President in Kenya is the head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, who is elected by registered voters during the elections.

The Constitution of Kenya allows the President to serve a maximum of two terms, each lasting five years.

Currently, the President of the Republic of Kenya is William Ruto, who is serving his first term in office.

Ruto was elected in the 2022 general elections as the fifth president of Kenya after winning against his biggest rival, Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Qualifications

For one to run for the presidency in Kenya, he/she must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a Kenyan citizen by birth.
• Is qualified to stand for election as a member of Parliament.
• Must not owe allegiance to a foreign state.
• Must be a registered voter.
• Is a holder of a degree from a University recognized in Kenya.
• Is nominated by a Political Party or is an independent candidate?
• Must not be a public officer or acting in any State of public office other than, President, Deputy President, or Member of Parliament.
• Must meet the moral and ethical requirements under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
• 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 an undischarged 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.
• Must not have been found 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 for contravening the provisions of Articles 75, 76, 77, and 78 of the Constitution.

Also Read: What It Takes to Become a Professor in Kenya: Qualifications and Requirements

Disqualifications

If the candidate owes allegiance to a foreign state

A state officer who would create a conflict of interest

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.

Serving a prison sentence.

Also Read: What it Takes to Become a Governor in Kenya

Roles of the President

The President has to address the opening of each newly elected Parliament.

(a) Address a special sitting of Parliament once every year and may address Parliament at any other time

(b) Once every year, the President has to:

(i) report, in an address to the nation, on all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realization of the national values referred to in Article 10.

(ii) publish in the Gazette the details of the measures and progress.

(iii) submit a report for debate to the National Assembly on the progress made in fulfilling the international obligations of the Republic.

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President William Ruto at past event. PHOTO/pixels