I’ll sue EACC for doubting my integrity, says Thuo Mathenge
Thuo Mathenge, who is vying for Nyeri governor as an independent candidate. He has threatened to sue EACC for listing him among candidates with suspected integrity issues. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The commission listed him on claims of falsifying his academic papers.
- It was alleged that Mr Mathenge's degree certificate from Fairland University in Jinja, Uganda, was not genuine.
- But he was cleared by the DCI and given a certificate of good conduct on March 1, 2017.
Nyeri governorship candidate Thuo Mathenge has threatened to sue the anti-graft agency for listing him among 19 aspirants who should be barred from holding public office over integrity issues.
Speaking to the Nation by phone Tuesday morning, Mr Mathenge accused the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of defaming him and being used by politicians to settle scores.
“EACC must stand out as an independent and professional body. Its officials must stop playing politics and being used for political rivalry between aspirants. I demand an apology from them as my lawyers address the matter,” said Mr Mathenge.
The commission listed him on claims of falsifying his academic papers, in particular a degree certificate from Fairland University in Jinja, Uganda.
Mr Mathenge said he suspected that the EACC recommendations to block him from contesting in the August elections were a witch-hunt since the agency had cleared him after authenticating his academic documents.
“If there were issues they would have blocked me then, not now. Someone is using the officials to frustrate my dream to transform Nyeri,” he told the Nation.
Mr Mathenge was cleared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and issued with a certificate of good conduct on March 1, 2017.
The certificate signed by J M Jeremiah indicates the politician had no records of offences and results of court cases.
