Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s announcement that his Democratic Conservative Party (DCP) will only field candidates with university degrees — including for the position of Member of County Assembly (MCA) — is not only out of touch with Kenya’s political reality, but also dangerously dictatorial.
Let’s be clear: the Constitution of Kenya only mandates a university degree for presidential and gubernatorial candidates. For MCAs and MPs, the law requires a basic level of education — a deliberate decision by the drafters of the Constitution to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of Kenya’s democratic landscape.
By attempting to override this national standard with elitist party regulations, Gachagua is not promoting excellence — he is gatekeeping democracy. His policy sends a dangerous message: that leadership is only the preserve of the formally educated, while ignoring the lived realities of millions of Kenyans who, due to systemic challenges, never had access to higher education but are capable, visionary, and deeply connected to their communities.
There is no credible scientific evidence to suggest that degree holders make better leaders than those without formal education. In fact, Kenya’s political history is full of examples of leaders without degrees who transformed their communities — and degree holders who failed spectacularly in public office.
If DCP truly wants to raise leadership standards, let it focus on character, integrity, track record, and community service — not academic elitism. Education is important, but it is not the sole measure of a leader’s capacity to serve. Imposing such rigid, exclusionary policies only serves to alienate grassroots voices and perpetuate inequality.
Mr. Gachagua must be reminded that democracy thrives on diversity — of thought, of background, of experience. A political party cannot claim to be democratic while dictating who deserves to lead based solely on academic credentials.
Leadership should not be reduced to a paper chase. It must remain a reflection of the people’s will.
Let the people decide.
