On Friday, October 21, Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts Cabinet Secretary nominee Ababu Namwamba appeared before the Parliamentary Vetting Committee.
While appearing before the committee, Namwamba who last served as sports minister in late President Mwai Kibaki’s regime for one year failed to present his degree certificate.
The former ODM Secretary General, who is a lawyer by profession shockingly disclosed that he misplaced his original certificate.
“It was misplaced, Mr. Chairman,” Ababu Namwamba said.
When pressed to confirm whether he graduated from the University of Nairobi, the former Sports Minister said he has a letter from the institution confirming he was their student.
“Mr. Chairman, may, with your permission, just draw your attention to the fact that my bachelor’s degree certificate from the University of Nairobi I submitted a copy of the same, but I do have a confirmation letter from the university confirming my status as a graduate from that university,” he stated.
Namwamba however said he has vast experience in the docket having served for over a year adding that he will turn around the Sports Ministry in the country.
In his first assignment in office, the youthful politician pledged to work with Football Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to reverse the ban on Kenyan football.
“If cleared, I am determined to clean this mess. On my first morning in the office, I will call the FIFA president to resolve the ban on Kenyan football. I will work with all stakeholders to turn around Kenyan sports,” he stated.
It is worth noting that Namwamba is not the first Cabinet Nominee who fails to provide his original certificates to the vetting committee.
Earlier in the day, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Nominee Mithika Linturi could not present some of his education credentials, including a degree acquired in India.
