Reprieve for Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja as the Uganda Judiciary has halted the ongoing probe in authenticating the validity of the senator’s degree certificate from Team University.
This follows after Team University had sought Justice Samson Karemani of the High Court in Court to halt the investigations into Sakaja’s degree certificate, from the institution.
The case is set to be heard and determined on 14 July 2022.
Two institutions Inspectorate of Government (IG) and the Ugandan Commission for Higher Education (NHCE) had probed into Sakaja’s degree saga. However, the Inspectorate of Government later absolved the responsibility to authenticate its (degree) validity, hence suspending the actions of NCHE.
“NCHE commenced investigations in order to determine the authenticity of the Bachelor of Science in Management (External) degree awarded to Sakaja Johnson Arthur by Team University. However, prior to completing our investigations, the IG also began investigations into the same matter hence suspending our action,” said NCHE executive director Prof Mary Okwakol.
Sakaja cleared by IEBC
Sakaja presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC (IEBC) degree certificate of Bachelor of Science in Management (External) for clearance to vie for Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the August contest.
However, a petitioner, Dennis Gakuru Wahome lodged a case with the High Court seeking to compel the electoral commission from printing Sakaja’s name on the ballot papers pending the hearing and determination of the case challenging his academic credentials.
Sakaja’s lawyers, led by Elias Mutuma dismissed Wahome’s case citing that the senator’s degree was authenticated by the Commission for University Education (CUE) before getting cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati refused to revoke the senator’s clearance certificate despite receiving a letter from Commission for University Education to do so.
Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja
Chebukati argued that Sakaja’s clearance certificate can only be revoked through a High Court order.
The Kenyan High Court is set to rule on Sakaja’s degree case on Friday.
