Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi did not complete his primary school education, his former mathematics teacher Simon Cherop told the court Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Milimani Court Magistrate Felix Kombo heard that Sudi, who was initially known as Kipchumba Kipletich, dropped out of school in class seven.
The court yesterday allowed the case to proceed without the MP after his lawyers, George Wajakoyah, Collins Kiprono and Thomas Ruto informed the magistrate that Sudi was part of a team preparing for the swearing-in of President-elect William Ruto.
Mr Cherop told the court that he taught Sudi in classes six and seven. According to him, the politician schooled at Tulwopng’etuny Primary School for two years and then left.
According to the witness, Sudi was admitted to the day school sometime in 1995, and his admission number was 770. The headmaster at the time was Alex Marakwen.
“Did you teach Sudi?” Cherop was asked by the prosecution.
He replied: “Yes. I taught him Maths in classes 6 and 7.”
The teacher said Sudi actively participated in games but did not complete his studies.
Cherop testified that he did not know where Sudi went, or whether he pursued secondary education.
The court heard that the witness wrote his statement in 2015.
The outspoken legislator was charged in October 2016 with three counts of forging academic certificates while seeking clearance from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest the General Election for March 4, 2013.
According to the prosecution, the MP forged his diploma in business management allegedly issued by the Kenya Institute of Management as well as a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education certificate reportedly issued by Highway Secondary School.
Sudi was also charged with giving false information to the IEBC, and for misleading Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials who were investigating the matter.
Stop prosecution
The MP had initially rushed to the High Court to stop his prosecution after a former IEBC official testified that the MP had lied to him when seeking clearance to contest for the Kapseret seat.
Bernard Mulati testified that Sudi’s certificates were forged, but that he was not aware at the time he cleared him.
“He presented the papers at Kapseret Constituency where I was the Returning Officer. He presented the high school and diploma certificates for nominations. I assumed the certificates were authentic until much later when I realised they were forged,” said Mr Mulati.
Fair hearing
At the High Court, Sudi argued that he was not accorded a fair hearing by the EACC, and that the charges were a violation of his privacy and dignity.
But Lady Justice Hedwig Ong’undi in July 2017 dismissed the application, ruling that the prosecution had not violated his rights and was justified to charge him based on the evidence linking him to the alleged forgery.
Following Justice Ong’undi’s verdict, the case at the Magistrate’s Court proceeded from where it had stopped. Only two prosecution witnesses have yet to testify.
The case will proceed today.