Mvita MP Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir’s bid to succeed retiring Governor Hassan Joho hangs in balance over the authenticity of his degree certificate.
This was after Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo and businessman Suleiman Shahbal poked holes on Nassir’s academic certificates.
The two claimed that the Mvita MP who the ODM deputy party leader has endorsed to succeed him claims the gubernatorial hopeful does not have a degree, major academic qualifications for the County CEO seat.
Mbogo challenged Sharrif Nassir to come clean on where and when he studied his first degree as he claims.
“The other day I watched a video clip of this guy lying to school children that he has completed his first degree and now he is pursuing his masters which is untrue. You cannot be a governor without a university degree.
“This guy from Mvita is lying to us. First, he should tell us where he studied for his degree,” Mbogo said.
Mbogo sensationally claimed that there were plans for Nassir to be issued with a degree certificate from either Mount Kenya University or the Technical University of Mombasa through back door.
“We are warning our local universities. We are aware that this Mvita guy has approached Mount Kenya University and he has not yet finished studying,” he said.
This comes even as the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), mandated to harmonize education and to undertake quality assurance of qualifications in Kenya, has now teamed up with investigative agencies to eliminate fake papers.
KNQA has also entered into a deal with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to bar candidates who will present unverified academic papers.
Some of the high-profile cases on academic papers include that of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud, which went to the Supreme Court.
Others were that of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, former Kiambu governors Ferdinand Waititu and William Kabogo, and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.