Juja aspirant to appear in court today

George Koimburi's poster in Juja. [David Gichuru, Standard]

George Ndung’u Koimburi, the controversial Juja parliamentary aspirant is expected to appear in court today to answer to charges of deceit and forgery.

He pleaded not guilty when the matter came up in court last month.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) flagged Koimburi when he presented his academic papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for clearance to vie in the by-election slated for May 18.

With just eight days to the by-election, the aspirant who unsuccessfully vied for the seat in 2017 is likely to face legal hurdles.

According to court documents, Koimburi allegedly submitted a fake degree certificate to EACC and the IEBC.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology separately wrote to DCI informing them that the papers were not genuine.

“A candidate by the name of Ndungu George Koimburi did not register nor sit for the 1994 KCSE examination at Ekalakala Secondary School under index 62001/013,” read a letter signed by Knec acting CEO Mercy Karogo filed in court.

JKUAT registrar of academic affairs Dr Esther Muoria, in a letter dated March 22, said that the papers presented were not authentic as there were no records showing Koimburi received the purported certificates from the institution.

If found guilty, the aspirant risks being disqualified from the race.

More than 10 aspirants are eyeing the seat that fell vacant following the demise of the late MP Francis Munyua Waititu aka ‘Wakapee.’