IEBC wants petition against Korane’s academic qualifications dismissed

Ali Bunow Korane, the Garissa County governor (Courtesy)

By Kevin Kyalo

NAIROBI—The IEBC has called for a halt into a petition questioning the academic credentials of Garissa governor Ali Bunow Korane.

The electoral body wants the High Court to drop the petition filed by Aden Mukhtar Bare, the father to Idriss Mukhtar a former Garissa CEC citing that it should have been lodged within the recommended time frame.

“The petition having been filed outside the time-frame established by Article 87 (2) of the Constitution that is 28 days after the declaration of the election results in respect of the election of Governor of Garissa County, this petition is time-barred,” says the IEBC.

The IEBC argues that the only way remaining for removal of Mr Korane is impeachment by MCAs in accordance with the law.

“This honorable court, therefore, lacks the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine this petition,” added the electoral body.

Last week, Mr.Bare had asked the High Court to declare Mr Korane unfit to hold office of the governor on the ground that he allegedly presented a forged degree certificate to get clearance to run for office in the last general election.

The petitioner says his son Mukhtar was seeking to challenge the authenticity of Mr Korane’s master’s degree before he was shot in Kileleshwa on August 19.

On Wednesday, Korane’s lawyer Ahmednassir Mohamed told Justice Wilfrida Okwany that they intend to file an affidavit to have the petition filed by Bare dismissed.

The court directed the parties to file and exchange their responses within 30 days and set mention date for December 19.

In a letter dated January 30, the University of Nairobi disowned a master’s degree that Korane claimed he obtained from the institution in 2011.

Aden Mukhtar, a longtime educationist, also resigned from his post as the principal of Garissa Teachers Training College.

“I cannot serve as a principal in a government institution and still criticize the DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigation) and DPP (Director of Public Prosecution). I want to thank the TSC (Teacher Service Commission) for accepting my resignation,” he said while briefing the press.

Mukhtar said he lost hope in finding justice, adding that he would move to Dubai to care for his son who is fighting for his life.

He maintained that the county governor of Garissa, Ali Korane was behind the shooting of his son. He also identified Korane as the individual derailing the wheels of justice.