LACK of finances and formal education prevents people from marginalised groups from seeking elective seats, a commissioner with National Gender and Equality Commision has said.

"They do not have the papers and if they do, they do not have the money to pay the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for permission to seek any elective seat," Naomy Wangai told the press on Wednesday.

Wangai said the groups will continue to be locked out of elective leadership positions if the two obstacles are not addressed. She was educating the locals Ol Jorai Primary School on the devolved governance ushered in by the new constitution.