Let Only Informed Citizens Vote” – Nyamwamu Proposes Civic Competence Test, Slams Failed Governor System
By Jeff Kizzilah
Incoming Nairobi County gubernatorial aspirant Cyprian Nyamwamu has sparked debate after proposing that only Kenyans with a Civic Competence Certificate should be allowed to vote in elections.
Nyamwamu said the move would ensure that voters clearly understand the responsibilities of the leaders they elect and make informed decisions that serve the country’s national interests.
His remarks come amid public criticism of leadership failures following floods in Nairobi, with some supporters of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja questioning critics online.
“Sakaja Johnson supporters have come to my wall asking, ‘Kwani ulitaka Governor akunyue maji ya mvua ndio floods zipotee?’” Nyamwamu said, adding that such responses demonstrate a worrying lack of civic understanding among voters.
The aspirant argued that voting should be restricted to Kenyans who have completed a Citizenship Competence Course, proving that they understand governance structures, national interests, and the terms of reference (TORs) of the officials they elect.
According to Nyamwamu, informed voters would help strengthen accountability and improve the quality of leadership across the country.
He further suggested that Kenya should reconsider the current system of electing governors altogether, claiming the model has “failed completely.”
As an alternative, Nyamwamu proposed that the Senate should invite qualified applicants to apply for county governorship positions, after which a professional CEO-style governor would be selected and held accountable by Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and senators for performance and deliverables.
“This way, counties would be run professionally, with clear accountability structures, rather than relying purely on popularity politics,” he said.
Nyamwamu’s proposal is expected to ignite national debate on electoral reforms, civic education, and the effectiveness of Kenya’s devolved governance system.
