Fake papers

Kenya’s politicians rush to secure fake diplomas as elections near

By Jeff Otieno

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Posted on November 12, 2021 11:09

DvAyHZ9WsAAgK20 © Deputy President of Kenya H.E Dr William Ruto receives his PHD in Plant Ecology at the 60th graduation of University of Nairobi in 2018 (Twitter)
Deputy President of Kenya H.E Dr William Ruto receives his PHD in Plant Ecology at the 60th graduation of University of Nairobi in 2018 (Twitter)

Back in 2018, when Kenyan Senator Gideon Moi announced that he might run in next year’s presidential race, supporters of Deputy President William Ruto immediately attacked him as a spoiler. One of the politicians who wouldn’t hear of it was MP Oscar Sudi, who took aim at Moi’s educational credentials.

“For one to be president, one has to have a degree, but Gideon Moi, with all his English, has no papers,” Sudi said, without offering any proof. “I advise you that if you want to be president in future … study and complete courses you abandoned.”

According to parliament’s website, the son of former President Daniel Moi has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Salford in England. However, Sudi challenged Moi to produce proof of his education abroad and accused him of having a “fake degree” from Kabarak University in Kenya.

Fast forward to today, and Sudi is now the one whose education credentials are drawing scrutiny. He is accused of having forged his academic papers, both from primary school and college, in order to run for a parliamentary seat in 2013.

Faking it to the top

With the 9 August election less than a year away, many Kenyan politicians are rushing

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