SAKAJA IS NOT OFF THE HOOK. FRESH TWIST EMERGES

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja is not off the hook yet despite the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) disputes tribunal dismissing a petition to stop his Nairobi gubernatorial candidature.

Sakaja still has dates with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Commission for University Education (CUE) on Monday to answer questions on the validity of his Team University degree.

This comes even as the Jubilee senator, who is vying for governor on a UDA ticket, lauded the decision by the IEBC tribunal to dismiss the petition seeking to bar him from vying over his academic credentials.

In a ruling on Sunday, the IEBC tribunal said it lacked the jurisdiction to confirm the authenticity of academic papers, in this case Sakaja controversial university degree.

A city voter had filed a petition against Sakaja at the tribunal accusing the politician of lacking the required academic credentials to vie for the post of governor in the August poll.

“I want to assure the millions of Nairobians, who have been anxious during this time, that the honorary is still on; we have been cleared and we will be on the ballot come august 9,” Sakaja said in response to the verdict.

CUE on Wednesday revoked the recognition of Sakaja’s Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Team University in Uganda, citing numerous queries raised about its validity.

However, the High Court later temporarily suspended the CUE decision to await the hearing and determination of his case on Sunday and barred IEBC from striking his name from the list of candidates cleared to run for governor in Nairobi.

On Friday, CUE demanded 10 documents from Sakaja to be able to verify that he in deed attended Team University before it can clear him to vie in the August general election.

CUE chairperson Prof Chacha Nyaigotti asked him to avail among other things an application letter for the course he took at Team, his admission letter, evidence of registration, official transcripts, exam schedules and a graduation booklet with his name published on it.

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