Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua raised eyebrows during a meeting at Bomas when he claimed to possess a list of government officials holding fraudulent degrees, allegedly obtained with the help of individuals from Nairobi’s River Road, notorious for producing counterfeit academic certificates.
Addressing participants at the Third National Wage Bill conference, Gachagua disclosed that operatives from River Road had offered to assist him in acquiring a degree certificate. However, he declined the offer, stating his contentment with his current qualifications.
“I’m not really concerned about the issue of papers because I don’t want to go the River Road route…mimi natosheka na ile kidogo niko nayo,” the DP said.
“I have been complaining that I’m lonely at the top because my boss has three degrees, Comptroller of State House has three yet I have one so these River Road people have been looking for me,” Gachagua revealed.
“They are telling me ‘you are the deputy president what are you complaining about yet we have helped many people?…We have helped so and so and so'”, Gachagua said.
Asserting his intention to present the list to President William Ruto, who was also present at the meeting, Gachagua emphasized the need for transparency and accountability within government ranks.
Reflecting on past events, Gachagua recalled receiving offers from supporters to aid him in obtaining a Master’s degree during the 2022 general elections. Despite feeling at a disadvantage compared to his more qualified rivals, such as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure, Gachagua remained steadfast in his stance.
“When you called me for the interview and I told you I have only one degree, you asked if I don’t have even a Masters, I told you to accept me that way,” Gachagua said in reference to the deputy presidential debate.
Gachagua seized the opportunity at Bomas to drum up support for the newly unveiled Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) saying it eliminates the struggle of obtaining a degree certificate for skilled individuals.
“The beauty is that there is no need now to look for these fancy certificates…If you feel you have skills and competencies that need to be certified, the mechanism now is there. There’s no need to go to River Road, Uganda or Ghana,” the DP said.
