Granton Samboja asks court to stop probe into his certificates

Taita-Taveta Governor-elect Granton Samboja. The EACC said it made inquiries and found out that Mr Samboja was not a graduate of Kenyatta University. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case questioning Mr Samboja’s qualifications.

Taita-Taveta Governor-elect Granton Samboja has gone to court to stop investigations into his academic papers.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case questioning Mr Samboja’s qualifications.

The commission said Kenyatta University disowned the Governor-elect’s certificates.

FORGERY
According to Mr Samboja, EACC had assumed the role of prosecutor and judge.

He said the commission was acting unlawfully by coercing him to provide documentary evidence.

He added that the EACC had maliciously recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions charge him with forgery.

GRADUATE
Mr Samboja asked the court to declare that the reported misleading information in the form submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission did not amount to corruption or a matter within the EACC mandate.

The former journalist won the seat on a Wiper party ticket but EACC says he forged his academic papers.

Mr Samboja claims to hold a certificate in Project Management, Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, all from Kenyatta University.

IEBC
EACC said it made inquiries and found out that Mr Samboja was not a graduate of the institution.

“The university dismissed reports he obtained an undergraduate degree in 2009,” the EACC said.

Though EACC wrote to IEBC informing the agency of the alleged forgeries, the commission still cleared him to contest.

“The commission maintains that Mr Samboja does not meet the educational requirements to contest the position because he fabricated his papers.”