Uganda's National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) has received a green light from the courts to investigate a degree certificate obtained by Johnson Sakaja from Team University.
Sakaja's academic papers have been a subject of discussion in Kenya after allegations that he never graduated from the Kampala-based institution.
The Nairobi Senator, seeking the city's governor seat in polls slated for August 9, maintains he graduated from Team University with a Bachelor of Management degree in 2016. A degree is a requirement for candidates seeking gubernatorial seats in Kenya.
Team University had earlier obtained orders barring NCHE from investigating Sakaja's academic papers.
But in the latest ruling, Jamson Karemani, Deputy registrar of the Ugandan High Court, stated that the application by the institution did not stand the waters.
“I do believe in NCHE’s submissions that indeed the investigations were stopped and at the moment there is no ongoing investigation,” Karemani said.
Karemani further revealed that the matter is currently under investigation by the police in Uganda.
Several suits have been filed in Kenya seeking to bar the Nairobi senator from contesting for the governor seat.
Last Tuesday, the High Court in Nairobi threw out a case challenging the authenticity of the MP's degree certificate.
In his ruling, Justice Anthony Mrima said petitioner Dennis Wahome failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Sakaja forged the certificate.
Sakaja's rivals
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate will face off against Jubilee's Polycarp Igathe in the August polls.
Others seeking the seat include Kenneth Nyamwamu of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) party, Harman Singh Grewal (Safina), Nancy Wambui Mwadime (Usawa Kwa Wote Party), Cleophas Kiio Mutua (Ford Kenya), Denise Kodhe (LDP party), Esther Waringa Thairu (independent) and Agnes Kagure (independent).
