The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) sets the qualifications and requirements for anyone wishing to vie for the position of County Governor in Kenya. The same qualifications apply to the Deputy Governor, who is the Governor’s running mate.
🔹 Term Limits for a County Governor
📌 A County Governor is elected for a five-year term and can only serve for a maximum of two terms.
📌 The same term limits apply to the Deputy Governor.
🔹 Basic Qualifications to Become a County Governor
To qualify for election as a County Governor in Kenya, you must:
✅ Be a Kenyan citizen for at least 10 years before the election.
✅ Not hold dual citizenship (unless the second citizenship was acquired by operation of law and without the capacity to opt-out).
✅ Not owe allegiance to a foreign state.
✅ Be a registered voter.
✅ Hold a degree from a university recognized in Kenya.
✅ Be eligible for election as a Member of County Assembly (MCA).
✅ Be nominated by a political party or run as an independent candidate.
✅ Meet the statutory moral and ethical requirements under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
✅ Not be a public officer or acting in any State or public office (except for elected representatives such as MPs, MCAs, and Deputy Governors).
✅ Not be an undischarged bankrupt.
✅ Not be a person of unsound mind.
✅ Not have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for at least six months at the time of registration or election.
✅ Not have been found guilty of abuse of office, corruption, or violating Chapter Six of the Constitution.
✅ Not have been dismissed or removed from public office for violating Articles 75, 76, 77, or 78 of the Constitution.
📌 Minimum Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old.
📌 No Maximum Age Limit.
🔹 Requirements for a County Governor Candidate
📍 Documents to Submit to IEBC
📌 Certified copies of academic certificates, including a degree certificate (for those with foreign degrees, the Commission for University Education (CUE) must authenticate the certificate).
📌 Certified copy of a national identity card (ID) or passport (must match voter registration details).
📌 Passport-size photograph with a white background (soft and hard copy).
📌 Letter of discharge from employer (for candidates who were public officers; must show they left public service at least six months before elections, except for elected leaders like MPs, MCAs, and Deputy Governors).
📌 Nomination certificate from a political party (for party candidates).
📌 Signed electoral code of conduct (from the Second Schedule of the Elections Act, 2011).
📌 Duly filled Commission Nomination Form 17 containing:
- Statutory Declaration Form (signed within one month before nomination day).
- **Self-Declaration Form (First Schedule of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012)*.
- Names of a proposer and seconder (both must be registered voters).
- For party candidates, proposer and seconder must be party members.
- For independent candidates, proposer and seconder must not be affiliated with any political party.
🔹 Additional Requirements for Independent Candidates
✅ Clearance certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties (shows they were not a member of any political party in the last three months before elections).
✅ Duly filled Form of Intention to Contest (as per Elections Regulations, 2012).
✅ List of at least 500 supporters (both soft and hard copy, submitted to the County Returning Officer before the deadline set by IEBC).
✅ Symbol for use in elections, subject to IEBC approval (as per Section 32 of the Elections Act, 2011).
✅ Maintain a functional campaign office in Kenya (address must be submitted to IEBC for inspection before the set deadline).
🔹 Nomination Fees for County Governor Candidates
📌 Fees must be paid via Banker’s Cheque to IEBC.
- Special Interest Groups (Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities): KES 25,000.
- (Youth refers to candidates aged below 35 years).
- Other Candidates: KES 50,000.
📌 Conclusion
The position of County Governor in Kenya comes with strict eligibility requirements to ensure qualified, ethical, and capable leadership at the county level. Candidates must meet academic, integrity, and legal standards before being cleared to contest.
By fulfilling these requirements, aspiring governors can ensure a smooth nomination process and legally participate in elections. 🚀
