Sudi's former teacher tells court not sure where MP went after leaving school in Class 7

Simon Cherop, who was the legislator’s Mathematics teacher at Tulwopng’etuny Primary School in Uasin Gishu County, testified before the court on Wednesday that Sudi schooled for two years from 1995.

Milimani Court Magistrate Felix Kombo heard that Sudi was initially known as Kipchumba Kipletich and was in the school for only Class Six and Seven.

“Did you teach Sudi?” Cherop was asked by the prosecution, to which he said: “Yes. I taught him Maths in classes 6 and 7.”

Sudi actively participated in games, Mr. Cherop added, but did not complete his studies at the school. 

He testified that information regarding where Sudi went on to clear his primary school education or whether he pursued secondary education was unbeknown to him.

The teacher had been recalled to clarify some issues in an ongoing case where the lawmaker is accused of forging academic credentials.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the MP was a no-show and the court allowed the case to proceed after his lawyers said Sudi was part of the team preparing for next-week’ swearing-in of President-elect William Ruto.

​​Sudi is charged with forging a Diploma Certificate in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) and a KCSE certificate where he claims he sat for the exam at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi.

But in May, former Highway Secondary School Principal Patrick Maritim testified against him, saying the legislator did not sit his KCSE exams at the school in 2006 as he had alleged.

Maritim told the court that the 2006 enrollment records did not show Sudi's name registered as a student there.

"According to the records, Sudi did not sit for KCSE exams…Oscar Sudi’s name does not appear anywhere,” Maritim said then.

At the time, the MP also skipped the hearing, claiming he had travelled to Turkey for medical treatment, but Trial Magistrate Felix Kombo directed his lawyers to tender evidence.

The court however said the evidence presented by the legislator’s lawyers to back their claims did not disclose the details of the hospital in Turkey where Sudi is allegedly receiving treatment.

In March this year, the Kapseret MP also failed to show up in court after he told the court that he allegedly contracted COVID-19.

In the meantime, the prosecution told the court that there are two witnesses remaining to testify against the legislature.

The matter was adjourned to November this year.