DP Ruto, Sakaja turn guns on Odinga's diploma

DP Ruto, Sakaja turn guns on Odinga’s diploma

As political opponents of Nairobi Johnson Arthur Sakaja continue to question his academic qualifications after he presented a degree certificate from Team University of Uganda, Kenya Kwanza Alliance top brass has also challenged Raila Odinga’s credentials.

Deputy President Dr. William Ruto has raised questions over the validity of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party presidential flag-bearer [Odinga] bachelor’s degree.

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Ruto raised question’s after a section of Kenyans also raised concerns over Odinga’s credentials arguing that there’s an academic black out in the former PM’s resume between 1945 and 1970 when he attained a diploma in mechanical engineering at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany.

Odinga’s confidants defended the diploma claiming that it was the standard degree for all courses in East Germany at the time.

ODM’s top blogger Mr. Philip Etaleon on June 15 posted a photograph taken in 1972 showing Raila Odinga in the company of University of Nairobi (UoN) lecturers to defend his academic qualifications.

Odinga was cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on June 5 to run for presidency in the forthcoming August 9 polls where he will face of with Dr. Ruto.

But DP is one among a section of Kenyans who are not convinced that Odinga is a graduate.

While campaigning in Vihiga County, on Friday, June 17, the DP posed four tough questions which suggested that Odinga’s academic qualifications should be investigated.

“Raila Odinga doesn’t have a university degree. If he is indeed a graduate, how come he has not told us which university he attended, which course he pursued, who were his classmates, or who were his lecturers,” Ruto posed.

Dr. Ruto further alleged that Odinga’s “unclear” academic credentials breach the integrity demands that should be met while running for top elective positions like office of the president.

The Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate said that it is not possible that Odinga went to school alone, did a course that nobody knows, and was taught by people who have no names

Ruto’s questions come as as section of UDA and Kenya Kwanza Alliance supporters accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of frustrating Senator Sakaja’s gubernatorial bid to hand his Jubilee Party candidate Polycarp Igathe an easy run in the Nairobi race.

The Commission for University Education (CUE) which had initially certified Sakaja’s degree as genuine has now shifted position and is now demanding the UDA candidate to provide ten documents as proof of enrollment and graduation from Team University, Uganda.

“They are disturbing a young man called Sakaja…..he(Sakaja) will be on the ballot. They want to install a puppet that will only work for his wealthy godfathers. Kenyans will not allow you to install a puppet in Nairobi. We will defeat your project Raila Odinga and your puppet Igathe in Nairobi. This is not your country, but a country of 50 million people,” said the DP.

The DP also vowed to bring down the cost of living, saying that his administration will form policies to cushion ordinary Kenyans from tough economic times.

“Today, the prices of flour, sugar, cooking oil and even salt have gone up. If you elected I’ll look into the prices of these products. I’ll also ensure that fertilizer prices go down to Sh2, 500 from Sh6, 000.” said Ruto.