Sakaka did not graduate, UoN states

• Jun 12, 2022

Sakaka did not graduate, UoN states

By Justus Karanja

The University of Nairobi has clarified that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Johnson Koskei Sakaja (pictured) has not completed his degree course.

According to a report, the University of Nairobi (UON) communications director, John Orindi stated the senator was admitted to the university on a module two programme in 2003 adding that he is a student who is yet to complete his course.

“It is true Sakaja was admitted to the university and was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science, studied from first year up to fourth year, but is yet to graduate,

“The university earlier issued a statement… and was clear that the person in question did not complete his studies,” Orindi stated.

The new twist comes after Sakaja severally claimed that he pursued actuarial science at the said university from 2002 to 2007.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) revealed the outspoken senator presented a degree from a Ugandan university which he used for clearance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Last year, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) carried out investigations regarding his qualifications.

In a verification letter, the university stated that Sakaja's transcripts were incomplete.

This came as the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) wrote to the University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor, Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama demanding to be furnished with Sakaja's academic credentials.

In the letter signed by the body’s Programme Manager, Magdalene Wanza-Kioko, titled ‘Verification of Hon. Johnson Koskei Sakaja's (ID. No: 23341628) degree,' OSIEA says it is an organisation that is committed to strengthening democratic values, governance, rule of law and accountability.

“We write to seek clarification on the veracity of academic credentials claimed by the above-named, a prominent Kenyan who may have used fake credentials to advance his political career and is now seeking to be governor of Nairobi County,” the letter states.

“As you know, it is a legal requirement under the Elections Act that aspirants for gubernatorial seats be holders of a degree from a recognised university. Hon. Sakaja, who is notorious for suppressing his Kalenjin ethnic identity, claims to hold a Bachelor's Degree (BSc) in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi. However, we have been unable to find his name on the Official Graduation Catalogue of your university between 2007 and 2012 when he would reasonably have been expected to graduate. We have also established that there are no graduation photographs of the Senator in existence,” Magdalene states.

She adds: “As a young, ambitious leader, he has also never applied for a graduate degree. Given the huge public interest generated by this issue, we are writing to request you to clarify whether the degree that Hon Koskei Sakaja purports to hold was awarded by the University of Nairobi.”

“Pursuant to the objects of the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Public Officer Ethics Act, we wish to demand, under the Freedom of Information Act, that your office provides the following documents: i) A copy of the Senator's degree certificate, ii) A copy of all of his transcripts for the entire duration of the degree programme, iii) A copy of the published graduation programme/catalogue showing his name, faculty, department and date of graduation (An errata will not be accepted unless accompanied by a detailed explanation letter and a sworn affidavit),” the letter states.

“Please provide this information within the next seven (7) days starting from the date of this letter, failure to which we shall be left with no option but to file a petition to compel the university to do so,” it concludes.