How To Be A President In Kenya

The President is both the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is also the head of the executive branch of the Government of Kenya.

How To Be A President In Kenya.

Qualifications and election to office

According to the current Constitution, if a person wishes to be elected as President, the following qualifications must be met:

  1. Should be a Kenyan citizen by birth;
  2. Should be qualified for election as a Member of Parliament;
  3. Should have been nominated by a political party to stand as its candidate for the Presidency, or they may stand as an independent candidate; and
  4. The person should have been nominated by more than two thousand voters from each of a majority of the country’s 47 counties.

A candidate will be disqualified to run for the presidency if they have allegiance to a foreign state or is working for the government in any capacity as a public officer. Being a public officer is not applicable to the incumbent President if running for a second term.

The President is elected by popular vote in the general election held in the month of August every 5 years. For a presidential candidate to be declared the winner, they must have:

  1. More than half of the total votes cast in the election; and
  2. At least 25% of the votes cast in each of more than half of the 47 counties in the country.

Term of office

A president is eligible for two consecutive terms of five years each, starting from the date the president is sworn in

Roles and responsibilities

Below is a summary of the roles and responsibilities of the President of Kenya as provided in the Constitution of Kenya:

  • Is the country’s Head of State and Government.
  • Exercises the country’s executive authority.
  • Is the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s military, the Kenya Defence Forces.
  • Is the chairperson of the country’s National Security Council.
  • Is a symbol of national unity.

Responsibilities

  • Is responsible for addressing each newly elected Parliament and report once to special parliamentary seating concerning issues of national value and governance.
  • Holds nominating and appointing authority, with Parliament’s approval, over the country’s Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney-General, Principal Secretaries, diplomatic & consular representatives and any other public officer over whom the Constitution grants said authority.
  • Is the chairperson of Cabinet meetings and oversees the running of operations in various ministries and government departments.
  • The President may also undertake any other executive functions as permitted by the Constitution.
  • The President also exercises the power of mercy, whereupon the President may pardon a person convicted of an offence.