The Commission for University Education (CUE) has rescinded a letter that annulled Nairobi governor candidate Johnson Sakaja’s degree, which he claims he earned at Team University in Uganda.
CUE indicated in its response to Sakaja’s case that it has reversed its decision but clarified that he is still not out of the woods because it is investigating the legitimacy of his academic documents.
Chacha Nyaigotti, the commission’s head, told the court that the petition filed by the Nairobi governorship contender could not stand following the recall.
“The substratum of this suit, being the letter dated June 14, 2022, for which review is sought, is hereby withdrawn pending further investigations by the respondent, whose investigations are currently ongoing,” said Nyaigotti.
The Commission invalidated Sakaja’s degree from Team University in Uganda last week.
The Commission stated in a letter dated June 14, 2022, that it had received relevant information regarding the legitimacy of the Bachelor of Science in Management degree.
Sakaja, on the other hand, is not off the leash, as CUE maintains that it will carry out its mission in evaluating the foreign degree certification following complaints about many illegalities and irregularities that have created major integrity concerns.
CUE is now asking the High Court to dismiss the case.
Sakaja had earlier issued his complaint that the Chairman of CUE went on to cancel his academic qualification in violation of the court decision.
He had called for Chacha’s apprehension and further being taken to court for the judge to decide whether or not he should be imprisoned for six months.
The University of Nairobi had earlier stoked controversy by indicating on its website that the Senator had graduated only to later delete his entry on its “Notable Alumni” page.
The university also embedded Sakaja’s photo in the post.
The senator was also a Bachelor of Actuarial Science student at the University of Nairobi but it’s not clear whether he completed the course. He joined the university in 2003.
The revocation comes barely a day after a lobby group wrote to the Ugandan Minister for Education, Janet Museveni, to compel Team University to produce Sakaja’s admission letter, details of payment of school fees, and evidence that he attended classes.
Sakaja alleges that he graduated in October 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Degree from Kampala-based university, Team.