Deputy President William Ruto is a hunted man, from political betrayal , corruption allegations and now his PHD is in jeorpardy.
There is this Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha who did not come to play.
The resolute Scholar has directed investigations into the PhDs awarded by local universities amid concerns that some of the postgraduate degrees are substandard or were obtained irregularly.
One such conscientious doctorate is that awarded to Deputy President William Ruto from the University of Nairobi last year December. A number of allegations have claimed that Ruto’s PhD stark case of chicanery.
Prof Magoha said he had asked the Commission for University Education (CUE) to establish whether the PhDs met set standards.
One Scholar argued thus.
“A lot of workload and academic rigors is necessary for the attainment of a PhD. Ruto is said to have enrolled for his PhD in 2012, at the time he was battling indictment at the Hague for crimes against humanity for his role in the 2007/2008 PEV, he faced life in prison if convicted; this was itself a unique experience not just for the country but particularly for him considering the stress and effort of mounting a defense that required full time or quite a lot of time as it ran its course of four plus years – it was terminated without prejudice (meaning it can be revived again, actually it was a mistrial of sorts) in April, 2016.
Makau Mutua, a SUNY Distinguished Professor claimed the DP’s doctorate is ‘politically acquired’ and similar to the one awarded to Grace Mugabe, wife of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, which she was stripped after her husband lost power late last year.
Similar sentiments have been echoed by renowned economist David Ndii who has come out strongly to discredit Ruto’s PhD alleging it had been achieved through dubious means and pointed an accusing finger at the varsity.
Scientists, this is the research protocol of a PhD candidate. Go to the river with sycophants, scoop water in a plastic water bottle. #RutoAcademicFraud https://t.co/HDT09ThMtM
— David Ndii (@DavidNdii) November 29, 2018
Magoha feels the same way. He said he had personally come across PhD graduates in several interviews who could not explain issues related to their purported areas of study, suggesting some commissioned their postgraduate research to third parties.
“Holding a paper does not mean anything. Some universities are producing more than 100 PhDs per year but when you look at the quality, it is only 10 who merit to have the doctorate degrees,” said Prof Magoha.
The Cabinet Secretary said employers were concerned with the quality of graduates from local universities.