A US-based professor has come out to denounce Deputy President William Ruto's academic qualifications and termed them 'fake'.
Ruto is set to graduate with Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Nairobi on Friday, December, 21, 2018, after successfully defending his thesis which was approved by the varsity's senate.
But to Makau Mutua, a SUNY Distinguished Professor, 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.
"Universities must stop dishing out FAKE and UNEARNED degrees to senior politicians. Let’s remember what happened to Grace once Mugabe fell — she was stripped of her PHONY doctorate," Mutua tweeted on Friday.
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.
"UON reputation is already damaged by fraudulent research degrees. I have personal experience and have written about it before. Ruto’s is on par with Grace Mugabe’s UZim PhD which has since been withdrawn, Vice Chancellor fired," posted Ndii, a PhD holder from Oxford University.
Ruto has been pursuing his doctorate since August 2012 and had hoped to graduate last year but missed out after failing to meet certain requirements.
He holds a bachelor's degree in botany and zoology and a master's degree in plant ecology.