The Executive Council of MUIRESA, a student association at Maseno University's Yala campus, has formally declared its leadership positions open and invited members to apply, setting the stage for the association's elections for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The call is contained in an official notice dated Thursday, 29 October 2026, under reference MUIRESA/ELE/01/01/26 and addressed to "All MUIRESA Members". The notice, carried on the association's letterhead bearing the motto "Know the World, Better the World", is titled "Declaration of Positions in MUIRESA for the Academic Year 2026/2027".

What the notice says

According to the document, the Executive Council is acting "pursuant to Chapter Five, Article 17-22, of the MUIRESA Constitution", the part of the association's rules that governs how its leaders are chosen. On that basis, the council "wishes to invite applicants" for the positions listed below.

Positions declared vacant

The notice lists five positions:

1. Chairperson and Running Mate: the top seat is contested on a joint ticket. One of the two "must be of the opposite gender", and "the two shall run on one ticket".

2. Secretary General

3. Treasurer

4. Organizing Secretary

5. Alumni Representative

The joint-ticket and gender rule

The most significant requirement is for the chairperson's race. Aspirants cannot run alone: each must team up with a running mate of the opposite gender before presenting themselves to members. The rule guarantees that the association's top leadership includes both a man and a woman, mirroring the gender principle in Kenya's Constitution that no more than two-thirds of elective bodies should be of the same gender.

For aspirants, it means the first task is coalition-building: identifying a credible partner, agreeing on a shared agenda and campaigning as a pair.

Why it matters on campus

Student associations such as MUIRESA serve as a link between students, the university administration and outside partners. They organise academic forums, represent members' welfare concerns and, through roles such as the Alumni Representative, keep former members connected to current students.

The declaration therefore opens the race for a team that will speak for members over the coming academic year. The treasurer will oversee the association's funds, the secretary general its records and correspondence, and the organizing secretary its programmes and events.

What happens next

The section of the notice seen by HAMASTA MEDIA does not give the application deadline, nomination requirements, vetting procedure or the election date. Members interested in any of the seats are advised to obtain the full notice and follow official communication from the MUIRESA Executive Council for the complete timetable.

HAMASTA MEDIA will follow the race as candidates declare their interest.

Reporting by Emmanuel Otieno Riaga. Source: MUIRESA Executive Council notice, 29 October 2026. Thumbnail: MUIRESA notice; The Star (file); Maseno University logo. Design: HAMASTA MEDIA.