Reprieve for Sakaja as court quash petition on degree
The High Court has quashed a lawsuit questioning the validity of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s academic credentials.
According to Justice Anthony Mrima the petitioner Dennis Wahome failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Sakaja’s degree certificate was forged.
The court ruled that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not make an error in allowing Sakaja to run for governor of Nairobi.
“The court finds IEBC did not err in clearing Sakaja to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat,” ruled Mrima.
Wahome claimed Sakaja’s degree, which he allegedly obtained from Uganda’s Team University, was falsified.
The senator insisted on having a Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Team University in Uganda.
However, the IEBC tribunal denied Sakaja’s challenge over his academic certificates.
The High Court declined to temporarily block IEBC from inserting Sakaja’s name on the ballot for Nairobi’s gubernatorial election on July 1, 2022.
The judge also stated that this was not the first time a court has been presented with charges of an aspirant having forged educational credentials.
He requested that the investigative agencies and the director of public prosecutions conduct an investigation into such illegalities because they are criminal in nature and it would be unfair for someone to gain from such illegalities.
“The investigative agencies and the office of the DPP must take up some measures to the vice. Until and unless such deliberate efforts are taken by necessary parties, the seemingly increasing manner of persons using forged academic documents will never come to an end. It is my hope and desire that this longstanding issue will going forward receive appropriate action from the concerned parties,” said Justice Mrima.
