Is 2018 a year of blessings to Kenya’s top political leaders? The top politicians seem to be in a rush to acquire doctorate degrees from various Universities. Just recently, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University confirmed that former prime minister Raila Odinga will on December 14 be feted with an honorary degree of Doctor of Sciences by the University.
The opposition leader will according to a newspaper advert placed in the MyGov pages last week be honored for his “immense contribution towards public service, leadership and the expansion of the democratic space in Kenya and in the region.”
“The University Senate has therefore determined that the Right Honourable Odinga is worthy of the conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Sciences (Honoris Causa),” the advert read in part.
The University also noted that the newly appointed High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa has promoted the infrastructure industry, settlement, sciences and environmental conservation.
“The university charter believes Raila ascribes to the values of the learning institution and has rendered distinguished service in the advancement of any branch of learning or service to humanity,” said the vice chancellor, Stephen Agong’.
However, Odinga will not be getting the doctorate alone. His political rival deputy President William Ruto has also been confirmed by University of Nairobi as one of their December graduands.
The DP will be graduating with a doctorate degree on December 21, 2018.
Ruto, who was a student in the School of Biological Sciences was pursuing a PhD in Plant Ecology.
He joined UoN in August 2012 and was supposed to graduate in 2016 but wasn’t approved since he did not meet the required threshold.
The DP’s Thesis that qualified him was a study on the ‘Influence of Human Activities on Land Use Changes on Environmental Quality of Riparian Ecosystems’.
The case study he used covered Saiwa Swamp watershed, which is located in Western Kenya.
Ruto is among the six students from the university’s School of Health Sciences and Humanities waiting to receive their doctorate degrees.
Having met the required standards to graduate this year, he was approved to join the list of graduands by a Senate meeting chaired by Vice-chancellor Peter Mbithi.
As required by the university, the DP’s work has already been published in two notable journals.
They include the International Journal of Research in Environmental Science and the Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.
And as a result, should you prepare to address the DP as Doctor Ruto? What is your view on Raila and Ruto’s doctorates?