Waititu dismisses Kabogo, insists his degree is valid

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu has dismissed Kiambu Governor William Kabogo’s statements about his academic qualifications, insisting that he has the requisite qualifications to hold elective office.

Waititu says he was in Punjab University, SGGS College from 1985 to 1988; where he graduated with 2nd class honours upper division in Bachelor of Commerce.

Waititu says his papers are valid and he never met Kabogo in India because the governor was in the university some years before him.

Kabogo moved to court on Friday claiming that Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu is unfit to contest for any elective office due to his academic qualifications.

Kabogo, through his lawyer Issa Mansur, argued that Waititu does not possess a valid degree from a recognized university and there is no evidence proving that the MP attended Punjab University in India.

The Kiambu Governor said that he is an alumnus of Punjab University in India and was surprised by Waititu’s claims that he was in the same university.

Kabogo wanted the case referred to the Chief Justice to constitute a bench to hear and determine the petition.

Justice Joseph Onguto has certified the matter as urgent and directed it to be heard on April 5th.

In January 2013 when Waititu was serving as Embakasi MP, he asserted that he has valid papers from Punjab University.

The MP said that doubts about his academic credentials were being raised by his opponents.

The certificates he presented at a media briefing bore the name Clifford Ndung’u Waititu and included a 1981 Kenya Certificate of Education and a leaving certificate from Siri Guru College in India and his degree certificate while the name ‘Ferdinand’ appears on his national Identity Card and his passport.

Under Section 25(1) 9(a) of Elections Act, a candidate must satisfy any educational, moral and ethical requirements prescribed by the Constitution and the Act.