Kenya councillors sit exams

Civic leaders fear they will lose their jobs unless they take the tests

By Noel Mwakugu in Nairobi

Kenyan schoolchildren have just started sitting their final secondary school examinations.

Councillors have avoided meeting diplomats because they cannot speak English

But this year, they are joined by some unusual private candidates.

Local councillors, including the Mayor of Mombasa, have signed up for the exams fearing that new laws spelling out necessary qualifications could end their careers.

The parliamentary bill currently under consideration states that only those educated to secondary school level can be elected to local councils.

Subjects unknown

Mombasa Mayor Mwalimu Masoud Mwahima was the first to sit for the secondary school certificate examinations, that began on Monday.

It was not clear what subjects he will be examined on at a secret examination station just outside the coastal town.

Officials at the examinations council confirmed that he was among the private candidates.

Mayor Mwahima and other councillors have been known to avoid courtesy calls by diplomats and businessmen apparently because they could not speak English.

Bad behaviour

Civic leaders in Kenya, who sometimes have no education at all, have a bad reputation.

Fist fights in council chambers are not unknown, and many chew the mildly narcotic khat plant during meetings.

The new bill on qualifications is aimed at curbing some of this behaviour.

According to the attorney general's office, the bill is only one among many planned measure to instil discipline into corrupt and mismanaged councils.

The bill has been criticised for not specifying the grades required in order to be a councillor.

Most councillors do not have even primary school certificates.

Officials at the Kenya National Examination council confirmed on Tuesday that a large numberof councillors had registered for the exams, all in the hope of securing their seats at the upcoming general elections.