Waititu to call 50 schoolmates to vouch for his academic certificates

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu will call over 50 former schoolmates in a suit questioning the authenticity of his academic certificates.

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu addressing parents and pupil of Kimuchu primary school in Thika over the weekend.The MP said he is ready to defend himself in court over a case which have been filed in court by Governor William Kabogo challenging his academic qualifications.He said he had lined up for over 50 witnesses who are his former classmates to testify in his defense.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE

Governor William Kabogo has sued Mr Waititu challenging his academic qualifications.

Waititu claimed on Saturday that Mr Kabogo was scared of his gubernatorial bid in 2017.

He said his conscience was clear and had nothing to hide concerning his academic qualifications and background.

Speaking in Thika town, the Kabete MP said his former high school and university classmates will appear as witnesses to testify in his favour in court.

“I’m eagerly waiting for the hearing of the case so that I can finally clear my name and Kabogo will be in for a rude shock,” he added.

He expressed confidence that he would be on the ballot in 2017 to run against Kabogo. The MP urged the governor to channel his energies towards delivering his election pledges and wooing the electorate instead of wasting his time in court battles.

“Let the governor stop fearing my candidature for the Kiambu gubernatorial position. It’s the people who will decide their next governor,” he said.

Waititu said he was in the process of clearing his master’s degree studies at Methodist University, Nairobi campus.

“There is no way I would have been admitted to do a master’s degree at Methodist University if I had not done my undergraduate,” he said.

Kabogo has filed a case in High Court claiming Waititu had breached the Leadership and Integrity Act as he does not have a degree as he claims.

Through lawyer Issa Mansur, the governor is challenging Waititu’s claim that he holds a degree from Punjab University.

The governor also disputes Waititu’s claim that he was admitted to the university in the same year as the governor.

Thika town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, a Kabogo critic and Waititu ally,  said the governor had sensed defeat in the forthcoming General Election and was resorting to court battles to bar his greatest challenger from vying.

“We will not rest until we achieve the change that the residents deserve,” said Ng’ang’a.

The Kenyan law specifies that those seeking gubernatorial seats should at least have a university degree.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission certified Waititu’s degree from the Punjab University for him to vie against Evans Kidero for governorship in the 2012 General Election.