By Sarah Omondi
Embattled Nairobi Senator and City gubernatorial candidate Johnson Sakaja has been summoned by the Commission for University Education (CUE) to shed light on his Bachelor of Science in Management degree that he says he got from Uganda’s Team University.
The commission wants Mr Sakaja to provide 10 supporting documents proving his qualifications including copy of course application, letter of admission, student ID, receipts for tuition fees, transcripts, course units taken, graduation photos and list of his lecturers during his stint as a student.
CUE said Mr Sakaja’s academic credentials remained revoked until he proves their authenticity.
“The commission has invited Hon Sakaja to attend a meeting on June 20 (Monday) at 11am in order to provide further information to help in investigations,” CUE Chair Prof Chacha Nyaigotti.
Saying the problem of fraudulent degree certificate had become endemic in the country, Prof Nyaigotti said the commission will work tirelessly to guard the education system against the threat and will “blacklist any university that colludes to provide fraudulent degrees”.
While rubbishing Senator Sakaja’s claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta was involved in his woes, the Commission boss said they shall not be intimidated or influenced by political gimmicks.
“As an independent regulator, we perform our functions without prejudice or favour and in full compliance of the law”.
The Commission has written to Team University seeking further information regarding the issue, he said.
Mr Sakaja was cleared to vie for City’s top seat on UDA ticket by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission a week ago.
CUE says it, on diverse dates, received complaints from the public and civil societies casting doubts on the authenticity of the Senator’s degree and that the gravity of the matter made the Commission to revoke its decision recognizing the degree qualification in Kenya pending further probe.
