‘Sakaja amesoma, wacheni kumzungusha’: DP Ruto speaks out on degree drama

Deputy President William Ruto has now come out guns blazing to defend embattled Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja over his degree drama.

The country’s second-in-command has told off those chastising Sakaja, claiming that their plans to frustrate his bid for the Nairobi governor’s seat in the August polls will amount to nought.

DP Ruto argued that his competitors have sensed defeat in the Nairobi's top seat race and have hence started peddling lies about Sakaja's academic qualification in a bid to ensure he is denied clearance.

"Sakaja ni shujaa ambaye amesoma na anaeleweka. Wachaneni na Sakaja amesoma na akona makaratasi. Tunataka mkutane na sisi kwa debe, wacheni kuzungusha Sakaja kwa kesi baada ya kesi," he said at a rally in Kisii on Thursday.

"Kwa sababu wameona tumewashinda, sasa wanamtafutia hujuma Sakaja ati wanasema hana makaratasi."

The Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flagbearer further called on his competitors to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) execute its mandate without interference.

He further urged the opposing side to let Kenyans have the free will to decide on the leaders they want in office at the August General Election.

“We want the IEBC left to manage the elections. Watu wawache kupiga simu kila mahali kujaribu kuhujumu Sakaja kwa sababu ameonekana atashinda kiti cha ugavana Nairobi. The people of Kenya are going to decide on their leaders," said Ruto.

Sakaja, who is contending for the city’s top seat on DP Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, has of late been put on the spot over alleged lack of proper academic documentation.

The Senator has since accused his political rivals, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, of plotting to frustrate his gubernatorial bid by burying him in court cases over his credentials.

Speaking during a Kenya Kwanza rally at Mukuru Kwa Njenga on Tuesday, he reaffirmed to his supporters that he has the required papers to contest for the seat, adding that his rivals are only trying to taint his image in a bid to sabotage his candidacy.

The High Court is on Sunday set to rule on the validity of the degree certificate Sakaja presented to IEBC in his quest to ascend to the position of Nairobi Governor.

This after the court on Wednesday suspended a decision by the Commission for University Education (CUE)  to revoke the recognition of his university degree pending hearing and determination of his case.