Wavinya Ndeti: My degree challengers are wasting time

Machakos Governor candidate Wavinya Ndeti. [File, Standard]

Machakos governor candidate Wavinya Ndeti and running mate, Francis Mwangangi have dismissed as a waste of time the petition challenging her academic credentials.

After IEBC’s Dispute Resolutions Committee okayed Ms Ndetu’s degrees, voters Gideon Ngewa and Kisilu Mutisya filed a petition in the High Court challenging the eligibility of Wavinya in the Machakos governor race on the grounds that her degree certificate is not authentic.

The two voters had initially filed a similar petition with the IEBC dispute resolution tribunal and failed, prompting them to move to the High Court.

Justice George Odunga, sitting in Machakos has certified the matter as urgent.

Speaking after receiving defectors in Ms Ndeti’s Kinanie home in Mavoko Constituency today, Wavinya and Manganui termed the questioning of her qualifications as a scheme by her opponents to slow down her campaigns ahead of the August 9th polls.

 “The issue of my academic qualifications is pending in court but I can tell you it is just a mere diversionary tactic by my key opponent in an attempt to slow down my campaign ahead of next month’s election. They have sensed defeat. That is why they have resorted to pursuing similar tactics deployed against me in 2017,” said Wavinya.

She went on, “If someone wants to confirm whether I graduated from Southbank University, it is a matter of logging in to the university’s website and, upon payment of a fee, they will get the information they want. They should stop wasting my time with court battles and focus on worthy campaign issues.”

The former Transport CAS, who resigned early this year to seek to be elected as the next Machakos governor, vowed to floor all her opponents despite the numerous hurdles.

Her sentiments were echoed by her running mate, former Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi who said Wavinya’s opponents had run out of ideas. “Those competing against us have become so idle to the extent that they are now clinging to every manner of excuse in an attempt to stop us. We urge the residents of Machakos to reject such people and install the best pair that is ready and willing to transform the livelihoods of Machakos residents,” said Mwangangi.

The candidates who have been cleared to vie for the Machakos governor race include former State House Chief of Staff, Nzioka Waita (Chama Cha Uzalendo), Machakos Deputy Governor, Francis Maliti (Maendeleo Chap Chap), former senator, Johnstone Muthama (UDA) as well as Rose Mulwa (Economic Liberation and Empowerment party).