Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Johnson Sakaja now claims the 'deep state' is behind his woes regarding his alleged forged university degree.
Reacting to the Commission for University Education's decision to revoke recognition of his degree from Team University in Uganda on Wednesday, June 15, Sakaja maintained that his academic papers are genuine.
He dismissed four petitions filed before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as defective.
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CUE earlier said it had received material information concerning Sakaja's Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Team University that put doubts on the authenticity of the degree certificate.
But Sakaja, in a statement, alleged that CUE Chairman Prof Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha, had 'been coerced and intimidated' to illegally revoke recognition of accreditation that had been properly issued by Ugandan authorities.
He said he presented his papers to the Commission for recognition on June 6.
The commission, he said, conducted due diligence by first writing to their counterpart in Uganda, National Council for Higher Education, which in turn wrote to the university.
He noted that the commission confirmed the authenticity of the qualification from Team University through the National Council for Higher Education and thus recognised his qualifications.
"These are the documents that the Nairobi County Returning Officer used to clear me as per the law," Sakaja said.
He claims that the state machinery sent officials from the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda to intimidate Team University staff as well as that country’s National Council for Higher Education.
"The university has remained firm and refused to be intimidated. So has the Council for Higher Education in Uganda. The only institution that has succumbed to this intimidation is the Kenyan CUE," he added.
"It is also instructive that the letter by CUE has been written and signed by the chairman on the CEO’s letterhead! We are also aware that the commission did not meet to make this decision and it was done by the Chairman under duress."
Sakaja unmoved
Despite the hurdles, the lawmaker, who is seeking to run for governor under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, has maintained that he will be on the ballot on August 9.
"A day earlier, the CUE Chief Executive Officer replied to an inquiry by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, affirming the authenticity of my credentials and confirming that I am qualified to run for office.
He further alleged a plot to have him arrested to give the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition rival Polycarp Igathe an upper hand in the polls.
"Not even the threats to arrest me will dim our resolve to serve the people of Nairobi. The people of Nairobi have resoundingly rejected your project and are looking forward to electing their own. I remain committed and confident that a new dawn for our capital is beckoning, a city of order and dignity; hope and opportunity for all. We shall not be cowed. We will prevail," Sakaja added.
