Sunday, January 22, 2012

Voters to shun less-educated politicians in next elections



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FILE | NATION Voters in Eldoret East Constituency during the 2007 General Election. A survey has shown that the candidates’ level of education and their manifestoes will be major factors in the next elections.
FILE | NATION Voters in Eldoret East Constituency during the 2007 General Election. A survey has shown that the candidates’ level of education and their manifestoes will be major factors in the next elections.  
By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA gmayaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, January 21  2012 at  22:30
IN SUMMARY
  • Survey by Jesuit Hakimani Centre shows that 63 out of every 100 voters will take candidates’ education into consideration
Less-educated candidates could be locked out of the General Election, according to a survey released on Friday showing that a majority of Kenyans will support only educated candidates and those with a development agenda.
It also showed that a significant number will peg their choices on the party’s leader, cash payments and the candidates’ tribal affiliation.
“A majority of the respondents felt that they would consider candidates’ manifestos (78 per cent), followed closely by education background (63.3 per cent),” according to the study conducted by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre between November and December last year in all regions except North Eastern.
According to the survey, residents of Eastern Province, especially in Meru County, Nairobi and Central, would demand cash incentives to vote.
But their counterparts in Nyanza, especially in Siaya County, will be paying attention to the candidates’ academic qualifications.
Dr Dismus Makau, the lead researcher, said the survey was aimed at assessing voters’ preparedness for the election.
“A significant number of voters have formed fears that 2012 may have unhealthy political alliances,” he said at the release of the report during a national conference on the next elections addressed by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday.
Must hold tertiary degrees
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The survey also found that very few respondents understand the Bill of Rights and functions of county governments.
At 76.42 per cent, Nyanza leads among regions whose respondents would consider the level of education, followed by Western (66.37 per cent), Nairobi (65.85) Rift Valley (65.78), Central (65) and Eastern 50.86.
Only 49.25 per cent of voters in Coast Province will consider the academic achievements of their candidates.
Section 22 of the Elections Act says a person can sit in Parliament if s/he holds a “post-secondary school qualification” recognised in Kenya. This means that a certificate from a post-secondary college would suffice.
However, candidates for president, deputy president, governor and deputy governor must hold tertiary degrees.
Nairobi leads in the number of respondents who would take into account who the party leader is (54.21 per cent) followed very closely by Nyanza (54.03) and Western with 53.98 per cent.
Principal presidential candidates such as Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Musyoka and Eldoret North MP William Ruto draw their strongest support from their own backyards.
Though he contests election in Nairobi, Mr Odinga’s main supporters are from Luo Nyanza while Mr Musyoka, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto rely on the backing of their Ukambani, Central and Rift Valley backyards, respectively.

At 31 per cent, Eastern has the lowest number of respondents who would be influenced by the party leader. Instead, the region represents the highest percentage (35.43) of voters who will demand payment to vote, a majority of them from Meru. Eastern is followed by Central (34.51 per cent), Rift Valley (29) and Nairobi at 28.92 per cent.
Less financially flush politicians in Meru County face an uphill task. The county is home to the highest percentage of voters who would be influenced by money (57 per cent) followed by Kajiado (50 per cent), Kiambu (35), Nakuru (34.9) and Kisii (34.78).
With 15.6 per cent, Siaya county in Nyanza has the lowest number of people who would be influenced by money, followed by Isiolo (18.18 per cent), Uasin Gishu (21.6), Kakamega (22) and Lamu with 22.2 per cent.
But Siaya ranks highest the number of respondents who will consider candidates’ educational qualifications.
One of the study’s most disturbing findings is that 26 of every 100 voters with university education queried said they would be swayed by money to vote.
Of the university graduates polled, 54.66 per cent said they would consider party leaders, and 66 per cent said academic qualifications were important to them.
More than half of respondents with primary education (59.4 per cent), said they would be influenced by the candidates’ academic qualifications.
About 77.24 per cent of those with secondary education – 32.7 per cent of the 1,000 respondents to the questionnaire interview – would consider academic qualification. According to the survey, 36 per cent of respondents with primary education will be influenced by cash, compared with 26.71 per cent of university graduates.
Western Province has the highest number of voters who will consider the candidate’s tribe (29 per cent) followed by Nyanza (27), Central (24.2) and Nairobi at 24.1.
Another survey released two weeks ago, showed that young people are organising with the aim of benefitting from the huge number of politicians in numerous races.
“Some of the youth formations will turn into conduits for the needs of the politicians such as crowds for hire, security for the politicians, campaign managers and thugs for hire among others,” said the report by the National Youth Sector Alliance.
The report on the motives of the many youth groups formed in the past two years indicates that most are driven by extracting their “prize” from services offered in the next General Election.

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