By Enock Okong’o
Kisii County gubernatorial aspirant Mr. Simba Arati has denied allegations that he holds fake university degrees.
Arati who spoke to his supporters at Kisii town when he was cleared to run for the seat by the IEBC, said that he has genuine academic certificates and asked his opponents to stop defaming him.
“I completed my high school and university education successfully despite economic constraints,” he said.
The outspoken politician narrated how he went to school at his Bobasi home before proceeding to Bura Primary School in Tana River where a relative hosted layed host thus enabling him to complete his primary school studies.
After sitting for his KCPE examinations, he joined Nyamache Secondary in Kisii County.
However, he did not finish his form four class at the school due to disciplinary issues leading to his suspension.
The bad blood between him and the staff of Nyamache Secondary school compelled him not to return to school after the suspension and instead he sought admission at Suneka Secondary school from where he sat for his KCSE examinations.
“I later went to sell vegetables in Nairobi to earn a living because my parents could not make ends meet. I earned money that enabled me to enrol at Kenya Polytechnic for a diploma in Tourism Management,” he said.
The ambitious Arati found his way to China and joined Guangzhou University from where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce.
On returning to Kenya he was nominated as a councillor in Nairobi and later vied successfully for a Member of Parliament seat in Dagoretti North Constituency.
During his first term in parliament, he enrolled at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and graduated with a masters degree in International Relations.
Saying that education is the equalizer among all human beings, the legislator promised residents to give education the top priority if elected.
He was flanked by his running mate Dr. Ondare Monda, who is the former MP for Nyaribari Chache Constituency, among other officials.
The two leaders asked the residents of Kisii County to remain peaceful during and after the electioneering period.
