The petitioners challenging the validity of a degree certificate of outspoken Malindi legislator who is UDA Kilifi gubernatorial candidate Aisha Jumwa have moved to the court of appeal against Presiding  judge  Justice  Stephen Githingi's  ruling.

One of the petitioners' counsel Derrick Odhiambo said they have filed a notice of appeal at the Malindi law court and are waiting for further direction from the court.  

 He said the intention is to overturn Githingi's ruling that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter and urged them to argue their case at the electoral  body's Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) before coming to the court.

"The same  IEBC's Dispute Resolution Committee had said it lacks powers to  determine Nairobi Senator who is also is UDA Nairobi  gubernatorial candidate Johnson Sakaja’s degree saga and that is why we had opted to move to the court instead of the committee," he pointed out.

The petitioners' lawyer said they have moved to the court of appeal seeking  orders to stop Aisha's name from being on the ballot in next month's general election until the case is heard and  determined.   

The voters argued Aisha is not qualified to vie for the gubernatorial seat to succeed incumbent Governor Amason Kingi in the coming elections for lack of academic qualifications.

The duo argued that Aisha, who was born in 1975, is a form two drop out according to documents they claimed are in their possession due to lack of school fees.

"She later joined Chandaria hall in Mombasa where she sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)," they pointed out.

The petitioners said according to a bail assessment report done by a court officer she later proceeded to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology [JKUAT] for a certificate course.

The duo said she undertook an executive Masters course in leadership and governance in 2015.

"Aisha is currently pursuing a leadership and management course at international leadership university in Nairobi and she is set to graduate in 2022 December," they pointed out.