Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

Former MP dragged to court over ‘fake’ degree


Former Galole MP Dadho Godana risks missing contesting Tana River County’s gubernatorial seat based on his academic qualification.

In a suit filed on Tuesday, a gubernatorial aspirant as well as his competitor for the same seat, moved to court to block the former MP from being cleared to vie for that seat on grounds that his degree qualification from Koinange Development Studies Centre is questionable.

Mr Adam Barisa sued Mr Godana and the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) in a suit in which the Commission for University Education and the electoral agency are listed as interested parties.

In his case documents, he claimed that since the submissions of support documents to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), he raised a red flag against the acceptance of his competitor’s academic qualification.

“This issue has been brought before court on the merits of transparency, integrity on account of aspired leadership and public interest,” said Mr Dhida.

NOMINATION CERTIFICATE

The Garsen voter claims the former legislator does not have a degree yet it is a requirement for all those seeking gubernatorial posts and that he is aggrieved by the fact that Mr Godana was issued with a nomination certificate from the said party on May 6.

He alleged that the legislator’s degree certificate in Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies is not recognized in Kenya since CUE disqualified it and that the IEBC will soon take the same decision.

“There is limited time and the deadline being today (May 10) hence this urgent matter needs court’s intervention. There will be no prejudice suffered if orders are issued as requested in the interest of justice, truth, equality and fairness,” he added.

Mr Dhida wants Mr Godana and ODM temporarily barred from presenting Tana River county gubernatorial nomination credentials to the IEBC pending the hearing and determination of the case.

In the alternative, he wants the Mr Godana barred from presenting his degree certificate which was awarded to him on October 15, 2015 from the said institution, to the IEBC.