Degree saga: Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja to know his fate on Sunday

After a long week of criticism, directives and counter-directives, embattled Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s political ambitions at the August General Election now rely on just one bullet he has left in the chamber.

This as the High Court is on Sunday set to rule on the validity of the degree certificate Sakaja presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in his quest to ascend to the position of Nairobi Governor.

The legislator’s troubles began on Wednesday when the Commission for University Education (CUE) revoked the recognition of his Bachelor of Science in Management Degree from Uganda’s Team University.

The commission said it will open a probe into the validity of the papers the Senator presented before the Wafula Chebukati-led electoral body for clearance to run.

Sakaja then moved to court to challenge this decision arguing that it was made unfairly and in favour of his political rivals.

He stated that the commission’s decision was rushed, adding that the matter revolving around his academic qualification to vie for the Governor race is still under investigations.

Through lawyer Elias Mutuma, Sakaja on Wednesday submitted that the decision by CUE to revoke recognition of his degree violates his rights to a fair administrative action and fair hearing.

"The decision by the respondent is anchored in mischief and craft political agenda whose main principal is to eliminate the applicant from the Nairobi City County Gubernatorial election...," read court papers.

Sakaja, in the case, attached his degree certificate from Team University and a letter from the Executive Director informing that he enrolled for a Bachelor of Science in Management as a student in Distance Learning and graduated on October 21, 2016.

The High Court then suspended CUE’s decision to revoke the recognition of his university degree pending hearing and determination of his case.

The IEBC’s Dispute Resolution Committee had earlier the same day dismissed three complaints against Senator Sakaja for lack of prosecution after complainants failed to appear in court.

Sakaja has previously blamed his woes on President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of using his influence in Kenya and Uganda to frustrate his August gubernatorial bid.

“The purported revocation of my credentials by the Commission for University Education (CUE) chairman is null and void, and politically instigated,” wrote the Senator on Facebook.

“The chairman, Prof Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha, has been coerced and intimidated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to illegally revoke recognition of accreditation that has been properly issued.”