Article by Winnie Kabintie

The University of Nairobi has revoked Meru Senator Mithika Linturi’s degree certificate for allegedly using fake papers to join the university.

The Senate of UON resolved to revoke Linturi’s law degree on Thursday morning following an investigation conducted by the institution and the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Linturi was among the 106 political leaders on a list by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of leaders who had questionable integrity issues ahead of the August 8 general election.

Although senators are not required to be degree holders, Linturi risks losing his seat over integrity issues.

In 2013 Members of parliament conspired to amend the Elections Act that required candidates running for elective posts to be holders of a degree from a recognized institution. The MP’s limited the requirement only for presidential, running mates and county governor candidates.

following the amendments, candidates vying for Senate and constituency seats are only required to have been Kenyan citizens for 10 years, owe allegiance to Kenya only, be registered voters and be nominated by a political party if they are not independent candidates.

Mithika Linturi’s Election Challenged

Mr. Mugambi Imanyara, who was also contesting for the Meru senatorial seat on Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket, has filed a petition challenging the senator’s election win, questioning his integrity.

The case is pending before the High Court in Meru but a week ago, High Court Judge Ann Ong’injo ordered IEBC and the county returning officer Samuel Gichichi to provide the petitioner with self-declaration forms and certified copies of the senator’s academic qualifications.

TAITA TAVETA GOVERNOR GRANTON SAMBOJA RISKS LOSING SEAT OVER FAKE DEGREE

Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja also risks losing his seat after Kenyatta University (KU) declared in September that the degree he holds, which he says he attained from the institution, is a forgery.

The university said Samboja has never been a student at the institution.

Samboja’s victory in the August general elections has also been petitioned and the issue of using fake academic certificates to contest for the position is one of the grounds filed by Armstrong Mwandoo Kiwoi, a voter, who is seeking to the governor’s election nullified.

According to the constitution and Kenya’s electoral law requires, one must have a degree from a recognised university to be elected governor.

Linturi has become the latest legislature to bear “questionable academic papers” in a country where assuming a public office seems to be driven by the need to “eat” and not to serve.