How degree question turned into nightmare for big guns
IEBC's strict enforcement of a degree requirement for presidential, governor aspirants and their deputies nearly vanquished the hopes of top political bigwigs.
For the first time, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission pulled a first on the hopefuls with strict scrutiny of their academic papers to ensure compliance with the law.
The commission had warned that the stringent measures would net academic cheats who have previously found their way into senior elective positions with questionable certificates.
While the commission turned away some aspirants for failing to meet the mark, it was a nightmare for others with ‘questionable’ papers.
They had to submit a number of documents certifying their degrees but also went through strict behind-the-scenes checks before being cleared.
Some had to be turned away on their first appearances to put their documents in order. Those who failed the checklist test fell by the wayside.
On the national stage, at least two presidential aspirants failed the academic qualification test, crushing their ambitions.
Safina presidential flagbearer Jimi Wanjigi and his Umoja Summit counterpart Walter Mongare were on Monday disqualified for lacking university degrees.
They both appeared with results transcripts indicating they were due for graduation later in December this year.
The law requires that presidential aspirants must possess a degree from a recognised university.
Mongare’ who was the first presidential candidate to be cleared had his certificate revoked at the last minute despite having initially been cleared.
However, when Wanjigi protested that he had appeared with similar documents (transcripts) as Nyambane, IEBC recalled the former comedian's certificate.
“Upon the emergence of some new information and verification, it has become clear he lacked academic qualifications and so we had to revoke his clearance certificate,” IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said on Monday.
Chebukati is the presidential returning officer.
For several governor aspirants, their ambitions were nearly ruined due to ‘questionable’ academic credentials.
However, they were cleared after the commission, which appeared to have been in proper coordination with other state agencies and the universities, authenticated their papers.
The IEBC collaborated with Commission on University Education which sets university standards and guidelines for local universities to achieve global competitiveness.
The university wrote confidentially to the IEBC on the academic qualification of the candidate, an avenue that nabbed those who are yet to graduate.
The Kenya National Qualifications Authority is the other agency responsible for quality assurance of all academic qualifications awarded in the country.
CUE, KNQA and the universities advise the electoral agency on the authenticity of the academic certificates, local and foreign institutions that meet Kenyan standards.
The Elections Act requires presidential, governor and their deputies to be degree holders from either local universities or foreign institutions recognised in Kenya.
Among the politicians who have been on the limelight over alleged questionable academic credentials include ANC Kakamega governor candidate Cleophas Malala.
Malala’s USIU degree has been the subject of public debate in the past week.
Kenyans on social media questioned the authenticity of his KCPE exam and degree certificates.
However, he rubbished the claims. He was cleared to run for the seat on Tuesday.
“There have been claims that I did not go to campus. I went to a university that ranks among the top 10 schools in the world, USIU,” he said in Kakamega on Monday after attending a court session on a case challenging his academic papers.
However, IEBC was asked by the court not to gazette his name until the case filed challenging his qualifications is heard.
The case was filed by Fred Muka and Frankline Anguche.
In Nairobi, UDA Nairobi governor candidate Johnson Sakaja has also been on the limelight with questions emerging about his Actuarial Science degree.
The senator was cleared on Tuesday after submitting his documents on Monday.
“Those are rumours and I cannot respond to rumours. We are past that hurdle now,” Sakaja told the Star hours after he was cleared by the commission.
Meru senator and governor aspirant Mithika Linturi’s degree allegedly from the University of Nairobi had also been flagged by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Others are Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi who is battling a court case over his KCSE exam certificate and former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu whose degree certificate has been a subject of public debate. BY THE STAR
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