The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conduct a fresh inquiry into the authenticity of Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho’s degree from Kampala University, Uganda.

According to the DPP, the director of Youth Leadership for Democratic Governance and Guidance, Silas Otuke, who has been questioning the legitimacy of Joho’s degree since the March 4, 2013 election, visited his office and submitted a letter with an accompanying dossier containing fresh and additional allegations and documents relating to the matter.

“Having perused the said letter and the accompanying dossier, I am satisfied and I do hereby direct that investigations into the above-captioned matter be re-opened and that a fresh, speedy and thorough inquiry be conducted into the matter and on completion thereof, the inquiry file be submitted to this office for appropriate action,” said Tobiko.

Joho, who is currently in China for official business said through a statement that although he was ready for the fresh probe on his credentials, he did not understand why the DPP opened a case that his office had closed last year.

“I acknowledge the reopening of investigations of the Kampala International University degree case by the DPP. This is however a matter that was closed by his own office after having satisfied himself that the allegations against my degree have no factual or legal basis.

The saga surrounding Joho’s degree emerged after he won Mombasa’s gubernatorial seat in the march 5th 2013 elections.

Last month however, the High Court dismissed Mr Silas Otuke’s (a voter) petition challenging the academic qualifications of Governor Hassan Joho. A three-judge bench struck off the petition on grounds that it amounted to abuse of the court process.

Consequently, the Uganda High Court last month upheld Joho’s degree and quashed a decision of the Uganda National Council of Higher Education on his degree case.

The constitution of Kenya requires for any person vying for a governor position to at least be a degree holder from a recognized university.