Machakos Governor Race: Petitioners Claim Wavinya Ndeti’s Computer Science Degree is Fake

Two voters have lodged a complaint before the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee seeking to have Wavinya Ndeti barred from vying for the Machakos gubernatorial seat in the upcoming elections.

Gideon Ngewa and Kisilu Mutisya have questioned the validity of the academic qualifications of Wavinya, who is eyeing the Machakos governorship seat on a Wiper Party ticket. The two argue that the former Kathiani MP cannot vie for the seat because she does not hold a valid university degree.

"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," said the complainants. 

They added that on July 18th, 1995, Wavinya apparently obtained a degree (Bsc) in Computing Studies from South Bank University London.

"Undertaking a degree after being awarded a masters 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," they added.

They further argue that 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.”

But Wavinya’s lawyers Eunice Lumala and Ochieng Oginga told the committee that their client holds a recognized university degree which has been accepted by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

The committee is expected to deliver its ruling on the matter on Saturday.