Could Garissa Governor, Ali Korane be having fake papers? While applying for a job, one of the criterion in the application process is that one must meet the necessary academic qualifications. However, it now looks like Governor Ali Korane could be under-qualified for the job he currently holds.
The Garrissa Governor’s job is now at stake after the father of a former Garissa County Executive, Aden Muktar Bare filed a petition to the Milimani courts challenging his academic qualifications. In the petition, Mr. Bare wanted the court to declare the seat vacant arguing that Mr. Korane violated the Constitution’s Leadership and Integrity Act by presenting academic credentials that he had not earned.
The petitioner said questions over the authenticity of Korane’s Masters of Business Administration certification emerged after the governor had assumed office following last year’s General Election.
Governor Ali Korane has now responded to the petition and made an application to the High Court in Nairobi to strike out the petition challenging his academic qualifications.
Through his advocate Ahmednasir Abdikadir, Korane requested the court to grant him 30 days to file response to the application in a petition filed by Aden Muktar Bare.
“We intent to file a replying affidavit to have this petition struck out, we urge the court to give us 30 days to do so,” said Ahmedanasir.
High Court Judge Wilfrida Okwany allowed the request and directed the parties involved in the case to file and serve documents and responses before December 19, 2018 when the matter will be mentioned for further directions. Chrales Kanjama, an advocate representing Bare in the case informed the court that the matter is urgent and highly needed priority.
“We are requesting the court to direct that all preliminary matters be dealt with concurrently so that the court can give one direction in the petition,” said Kanjama.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) an interested party in the case however said that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine that petition challenging the removal of the governor.
“This court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to issue an order declaring the office of the County Governor of Garissa vacant as sought by the petitioner,” said IEBC.
IEBC also claimed that the petition by Bare is time barred as it was filed outside the time frame established in the Constitution which is 28 days after the declaration of the election results. The commission is opposing the petition on grounds that the only constitutional way of challenging the validity of the election of Governor Korane is by way of an election.
However, through his lawyer, Mr. Bare wants the IEBC to table the documents that Korane used to vie for the gubernatorial seat. According to him Mr. Korane presented fake academic papers thus breached the Constitution.
The judge ruled that the matter will be mentioned December 19, 2018.
Do you think the governor should vacate the seat should the court discover his academic papers are fake?