Fazul loses bid to block of his academic certificates

Fazul Mahamed, the executive director of the NGOs Coordination Board, at the agency's offices in Nairobi on October 29, 2015. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • On Thursday, High Court Judge George Odunga declined to issue a temporary order to stop the implementation of the Ombudsman's report, saying that it would be a violation of rules of natural justice.

  • The judge also faulted Fazul Mahamed's seeking of a reprieve from court yet he had admitted that he was aware the investigation report had been handed to relevant authorities for implementation.

Fazul Mahamed, the executive director of the NGOs Coordination Board, has lost his bid to block the implementation of the Ombudsman's report regarding his academic qualifications.

On Thursday, High Court Judge George Odunga declined to issue a temporary order to stop the adoption of the report, saying it would be a violation of rules of natural justice.

The judge also faulted Mr Mahamed's seeking of a reprieve from court yet he had admitted that he was aware the investigation report had been handed to relevant authorities for implementation.

“In allowing such a request, in my respectful view, would turn these proceedings into a circus and render them a theatre of the absurd,” Justice Odunga ruled.

The judge also faulted the fact the case documents did not include relevant investigating and prosecuting authorities such as the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Ombudsman was looking into allegations of forgery of academic documents and abuse of power against Mr Mahamed.

Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri had dissolved the board and sent its officials, including Mr Mahamed, on compulsory leave, last year.

In the verdict issued on Thursday, the judge consequently dismissed Mr Mahamed’s attempts to have the investigations concerning his academic qualifications temporarily stopped.