The National Electoral Commission (NEC) received 41 candidatures for senatorial elections scheduled for September, 32 of which were later approved by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court rejected the candidatures of nine aspirants, who fell short of requirements, NEC Executive Secretary Charles Munyaneza said on Friday, August 30.

Senate elections are due on September 16 and 17. The 32 approved candidates began their campaign on August 26.

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Overall, for a senatorial candidature to be approved, an aspirant must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification or having occupied senior responsibilities in the public or private sector, according to the organic law governing elections.

Specifically for senatorial candidates from universities and institutions of higher learning, the law provides that they must also meet additional requirements which are a certificate issued by public or private university or institution of higher learning confirming that the candidate is employed there on a permanent basis, and a certificate confirming the candidate’s academic rank of an associate professor or associate research professor.

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The organic law governing elections provides that candidates for elective senators are approved by the Supreme Court.

The law adds that the electoral commission publishes the list of approved candidatures within 24 hours from the time when the Supreme Court has submitted the list to the commission, and that the decision of the Supreme Court cannot be appealed against.

Munyaneza said that for the aspirants who attempted to be candidates for senators elected in accordance with national administrative entities, one of them fell short of the required experience, the other had not yet attained the at least 40 years of age, which the threshold for a becoming a Senator.

Munyaneza said other candidates failed to submit required certificates, including notarised degrees, and certificates of their criminal record.

For senators elected from institutions of higher learning, he said that some aspirants did not meet the requirement to be at least an associate professors or associate research professor, as an academic rank.

As such, there are 32 candidates eligible to contend for senatorial seats.

28 candidates are vying for 12 seats reserved for administrative entities, and four are vying for two seats reserved for representatives of universities and higher learning institutions, according to a list of approved aspirants that was published by NEC on August 17.

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Underscoring the fact that some did not meet the required experience, NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa she said one of the requirements for a candidate for a senatorial position is experience that in accordance with the Senate as an entity that takes decisions in line with its responsibilities.

"That experience is determined by one’s CV [curriculum vitae] and the work they have done,” Gasinzigwa said.

Article 10 of the Constitution stipulates that the Senate of Rwanda commits itself to upholding and ensuring respect for the fundamental principles.

These principles are prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, fight against denial and revisionism of the Genocide against the Tutsi as well as eradication of genocide ideology and all its manifestations; eradication of discrimination and divisionism based on ethnicity, region or any other ground, as well as promotion of national unity.

In addition to these, there are equitable power-sharing; building a state governed by the rule of law, a pluralistic democratic government, equality of all Rwandans and between women and men which is affirmed by women occupying at least 30 per cent of positions in decision-making organs; building a State committed to promoting social welfare and establishing appropriate mechanisms for equal opportunity to social justice; as well as constant quest for solutions through dialogue and consensus.