Relief for Wavinya Ndeti as IEBC throws out complaint against her candidature

Win for Machakos Governorship candidate Wavinya Ndeti after IEBC threw out a complaint by two voters against her, for lack of jurisdiction.

“This committee lacks the jurisdiction to investigate the authenticity of the degree of Wavinya Ndeti. We, therefore, dismiss the complaint,” the George Murugu-led committee ruled.

While dismissing the complaint by voters Gideon Ngewa Kenya and Kisilu Mutisya, the committee further stated that the returning officer discharged his mandate in accordance with the law and that the complaint lacks merit.

“The IEBC has no investigating machinery to undertake inquiries into the validity and legitimacy of academic certificates and credentials supplied to it by various candidates but merely acts in trust on the face value of the documents,” the committee ruled.

The two voters had insisted and alleged that the Computer Science degree certificate held by Ndeti is bogus and that she is not qualified to contest for the governor’s seat.

They had questioned Ndeti on the validity of her university education and the degrees she earned in the United Kingdom.

The complainants alleged that Ndeti’s academic certificates are questionable, and inconsistent and that although she claims to have studied in the UK, there is no record of her ever registering in the UK under permutations of her name.

“Ndeti is not a holder of a degree recognized in Kenya. On November 6, 1992, she was purportedly awarded a Masters’ degree in Business Systems Analysis and Design by the City University, London without having undertaken a first degree,” the complainants said.

They added: On July 18, 1995, Ndeti apparently obtained a degree (Bsc) in Computing Studies from South Bank University, London.

“Undertaking a degree after being awarded a Master’s in a closely-related subject is equally problematic. The degree in Computing Studies awarded by South Bank University to Ms Ndeti raises a number of issues,” the complainants claim.

In their view, ‘the title of the degree is extremely uncommon to a point where it does not feature online as a course’.

“Computer Science is the universal course title for this field of study. Indeed, the graduate Diploma awarded to Ms Ndeti by South Bank Polytechnic London some five years earlier in 1990, was for Computer Science. It is very unlikely that the University would have changed the degree title to Computing Studies in a span of five years,” the voters allege.

They wanted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)’s Disputes Resolution Committee to revoke the clearance of Ndeti over claims that she is not qualified to vie for the position.

“There is sufficient basis to cross-examine Ndeti and the authenticity of the degree. This committee has the obligation under law to block Ndeti and allow cross-examination. It is time to clear the messes in the election process and ensure there is integrity,” lawyer Wanyama said, adding that the complaint is legitimate.