The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is now seeking to take action against Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja following the controversy arising from the validity of his academic certificates, with the agency seeking to launch investigations into his involvement in an international crime syndicate dealing in forgery.

The senator is now facing arrest if found to be a suspect in the crime ring and according to DCI boss George Kinoti and his case will enjoin officials from the Team University in Uganda where he alleges that he acquired his degree from.

"We will not surrender our capital city to frauds. We will involve all international agencies in investigating and prosecuting anyone involved in academic fraud," Kinoti stated in an interview with the  Nation on Friday, June 17.

Sakaja's woes deepened after a lobby group wrote to the Ugandan government, seeking to ascertain the authenticity of the gubernatorial aspirant's credentials at the university, and asked Ugandan Education minister, Janet Museveni to facilitate the evidence in admission letter, date of admission, proof of payment of tuition fees, and proof of coursework done.

"Our client is certain that your office will treat this matter with the importance and the urgency that it requires to safeguard the image of Uganda as a country that has traditionally offered education to many students in the East African Community," the letter to the First Lady read.

It is reported that Mrs Museveni intervened and sent government officials to seek the sought evidence, but was too late as the Commission for University Education (CUE) had already revoked its recognition of the senator's certificate.

The embattled senator was offered a temporary reprieve after the High Court ordered the commission to maintain its validity pending investigations into the same, giving him a fighting chance  in the run-up to the polls.

"An Order of Certiorari to remove into this Honorable Court and quash the decision of the Commission for University Education made on June 14, 2022, revoking the 'recognition' of the applicant's degree from Team University, Kampala, Uganda.

"An Order of Mandamus compelling the respondent herein to maintain the validity of the applicant's degree pending further directions by the Honorable Court," the Judge ordered. 

Kinoti has however maintained that in the event that his academic degree certificate and transcripts were found forged, Sakaja would consequently be charged and could face a three-year jail sentence.

“Any person who forges any document or electronic record is guilty of an offence which unless otherwise stated, is a felony and he/she is liable unless owing to the circumstances of forgery or the nature of the thing forged some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment of three years,” states Section 349 of the Penal Code.

Sakaja on his part remains adamant that his degree is valid, and threats of arrest would not deter him in his pursuit of the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.

UDA presidential aspirant Deputy President William Ruto has also defended Sakaja, asking state agencies to back off and allow the senator to vie in the election, as he has provided proof that he graduated.