The University of Nairobi (UoN) has flagged as fake a viral degree certificate being linked to Deputy President William Ruto.
Through a statement dated Friday, June 17, UoN flagged the certificate which has been making rounds on social media platforms as fake. The flagged certificate raised questions with Kenyans wondering whether the Deputy President was not an alumni of the University of Nairobi.
Kenyans.co.ke has, however, confirmed that the copy circulating online was not the one issued to the DP, further confirming that he studied at the university.
The flagged certificate indicated that Ruto reportedly graduated in 1990 and was conferred with a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany having gotten a Second Class Honours Lower Division.
According to the UoN graduation booklet dated Monday, October 1990, Ruto was among the graduands who were conferred with relevant Degrees and Diplomas.
However, Ruto did not get a Second Class Honours Lower Division as indicated in the flagged certificate. According to the booklet, Ruto, who was identified as Ruto Kipchirchir William, got Second Class Honours Upper Division.
The Lower Division certificate was edited to insinuate that Ruto did not excel much in his education while at the University.
The Deputy President is listed at number 130 in the UoN 1990 graduation booklet confirming that indeed he was conferred with a Bachelor of Science Degree under the school of Botany and Zoology.
The former Eldoret North Member of Parliament started schooling at Kamagut Primary before joining Wareng Secondary School, followed by Kapsabet Boys High School for his A levels.
He then joined the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology in 1990. Years later, Ruto enrolled for a Master's degree in Plant Ecology and graduated in 2011.
In 2018, Ruto graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Plant Ecology from UoN. The second-in-command had pursued the doctorate since 2012.
He submitted his thesis in September 2018 titled Influence of Human Activities on Land Use Changes on Environmental Quality of Riparian Ecosystems: A Case Study of Saiwa Swamp Watershed, Western Kenya.
His project was approved in August 2012 but only managed to submit it almost six years later. Ruto then defended his thesis on October 2, 2018, which was approved clearing him for graduation.
Ruto was forced to overstay at UoN for failing to meet some of the standards set for PhD students, a common phenomenon in many institutions of higher learning.
After being conferred with his PhD, Ruto noted it was vital for all graduates to meet standards set by different universities.
"I urge all colleges to observe set standards and award certificates to students purely on merit," Ruto stated.
The faked certificate started making rounds after he dared Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, to provide his University certificate while defending United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for Nairobi gubernatorial seat, Johnson Sakaja.
Speaking at a rally in Kisii county on Thursday, June 16, Ruto explained that his classmates are known unlike his competitor.
"If there is anybody who has questionable papers, it is the Azimio presidential candidate. Before you tell us stories, let Raila tell us where he studied.
"Let him tell us who his classmates were and who taught him. You cannot fail to answer these questions and tell us that he has a degree. Which degree?" Ruto wondered.
