Azimio Leader Raila Odinga visited the Herder Institute, his alma mater in Leipzig, Germany where he studied between 1963 and 1964 soon after clearing his high school education at Maranda High School in 1962.
Herder Institute trained foreign students in the German language and was part of the philological faculty at the University of Leipzig in East Germany.
“Visiting the Herder Institute, my alma mater in Leipzig. From the familiar corridors to returning to my previous house on Lumumba Street and meeting with today’s students,” he said in a statement on his return to the institute on Tuesday.
Taking to his X account, Raila said the visit brought back memories of his school days.
Raila visited the familiar corridors, his previous house on Lumumba Street and interacted with students.
“I spent part of the day reflecting in Germany at my Alma Mater, Otto Von Guericke University Magdeburg. I visited the Engineering faculty, the Production Technology department, lecture halls and reminisced in the halls of residence. Grateful for my foundational experiences here,” stated Raila.
Raila’s visit to the institution came after questions emerged regarding his qualification for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson a few days after he officially announced his bid.
Lawyer Dr Miguna Miguna has previously claimed that the former prime minister does not qualify for the AUC position.
Miguna’s Argument
Reacting after Raila’s Herder Institute visit, Miguna engaged in a heated debate with a section of users who were trying to proof that Raila attended the University of Leipzig and was a lecturer as the University of Nairobi (UON).
To be chairman of the AU Commission, one must have at least a master’s degree in law, political science, business administration, economics, or social sciences.
To prove his point, Miguna used Maseno University which was previously known as Siriba Teachers Training College in 1965 as an example.
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He said the institution trained primary school teachers and awarded them Certificates.
However, the lawyer explained that Siriba graduates cannot claim that they hold degree certificates from Maseno University.
“Retired teachers who graduated from Siriba cannot claim in 2024 that they hold degrees from Maseno University, which did not exist when they attended Siriba in 1965. Wacha mchezo,” wrote Miguna.
Did Raila Lecture at UoN?
A user named Galbaris countered Miguna saying Raila was a lecturer at the UoN department of mechanical engineering.
The user went ahead to post photos of Raila at UoN and one when he was at Leipzig University.
Galbaris explained that he equally studied at UoN and senior lecturers at the Engineering confirmed that Raila was once a lecturer at the institution.
However, Miguna dismissed the photos stating that he attended UoN and Raila’s records do not exist.
“Pictures mean nothing! Anyone can take a picture! Produce his students, appointment letter and/or degrees!” said Miguna.
“If the next AU commission chair must be a Luo from Kenya, we have many qualified candidates like Retired General Opande and PLO Lumumba. But to try to impose a semi-illiterate senile who will be sleeping in meetings and shame our people and country is a firm NO!” added Miguna.
Raila has in the past asserted that he holds a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering which he attained in 1970 from the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Ruto Questions Raila’s Education
President William Ruto also questioned Raila’s academic credentials in the run up to the 2022 elections.
Speaking in June, Ruto asked the Azimio leader to give proof of where he went to school, his classmates and his teachers.
“If there is anyone with questionable academic credentials, it is your Azimio presidential candidate. Before you tell us anything, your presidential candidate Raila should show us where he schooled, his classmates and who his teachers were. Stop the conmanship,” he added.
Ruto insisted that Raila could not prove what he studied but claims to have a degree.
Also Read: Raila’s Qualification for AU Job Questioned as Profile Document Emerges
IEBC Clearance
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) however cleared Raila to run for the presidency in 2022 elections.
In a media interview, former IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein said the Commission had done due diligence on his academic qualification before clearing Raila for the race.
“By the time he was clearing him (Raila Odinga) he had certified himself that the candidate met all the legal requirements. To that extent I would say that Hon Raila Odinga met the requirements,” Hussein said.
He was cleared a day after former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Veronica Maina said there was need to relook into the authenticity of academic qualification of presidential candidates.
