Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flag bearer William Ruto today challenged his main opponent, the ODM leader Raila Odinga to come clean on his degree.
Speaking in Nyamira, Ruto alleged that Raila Odinga’s academic record is questionable, as no one knows the institution he attended nor if there is a classmate to prove.
On his part, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangu’la claimed that even though he was at one time a close associate of the ODM leader, he has never seen his degree certificate.
On Thursday, June 16, the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential flag bearer’s degree from the Otto von Guericke Technical University Magdeburg emerged online after questions over the authenticity of his academic papers.
The degree shared mostly by social media bloggers affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party indicated that Raila graduated from the institution in August 1969.
According to the certificate the former prime minister was awarded a certificate as a graduate engineer from the Faculty of Metal Processing Engineering.
“Raila Odinga was born in 1945 in Sakwa Kenya, having fulfilled the requirements of the Faculty of Metal Processing Engineering and having satisfied the examiners in the faculty and having attained the grade of good is hereby awarded academic title of graduate engineer,” the degree certificate states.
However, the degree raised more questions than answers as Kenyans on social media highlighted several inconsistencies.
“So, The Dean of Faculty who was born in 1964 signed a degree certificate in 1969, at 5 years old!” Mark Kiptoo a random Twitter user said.
“Raila was born 1945, graduated 1969. This 24yrs. Considering those days people used to join the school at 8-10yrs. So he didn’t study primary or secondary he went directly to University?” Geoff Wageni another Twitter user said.
According to his biography, Raila got the degree from the Technical School, Magdeburg which is now part of the University Magdeburg.
“He received a scholarship that in 1965 sent him to the Technical School, Magdeburg (now a part of Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg) in the GDR. In 1970, he graduated with an MSc (Masters of Science) in Mechanical Engineering. He returned to Kenya in 1970.” Raila’s biography states.
