Did Joho go to primary school? The gov’t wants to know

The government is not yet done with the probing of Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho’s academic qualifications.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has also started probing the academic history of the outspoken Mombasa Governor.

The anti-graft body has now summoned the headmaster of Tom Mboya Primary School in Mombasa to furnish the commission with the academic record of Joho including results of his Kenya certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results.

In a letter written by the EACC Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Michael Mubea, the Commission says it is investigating the allegations touching on the conduct of Joho.

Last month, Joho was quizzed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Mombasa over claims that he forged his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate to get admission to the University of Nairobi, claims which the governor has already denied.

The head teacher’s summon by the EACC comes barely a week after the High Court sitting in Mombasa barred the police from probing Joho’s academic credentials after the governor moved to court citing intimidation and harassment.

The High Court temporarily barred police from probing, summoning, arresting or prosecuting Joho over the alleged forgery of his 1992 KCSE results slip.

Justice Eric Ogolla also barred police from arresting and charging the governor outspoken Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the ongoing investigations by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged tax evasion.

On March 30, the government denied using state agencies to intimidate Joho following reports by the opposition that the Jubilee administration was on a mission to bring down the outspoken governor.

In a statement to newsrooms, government spokesperson, Eric Kiraithe, said that the government and President Uhuru Kenyatta, have nothing against the Mombasa Governor.

This followed after the summoning of Joho by police to record a statement over the legitimacy of his KCSE certificate that has elicited mixed reactions.

The government said the move was aimed at weeding the country of education fraudsters and ensure those who are elected to public offices are persons of integrity and high moral standing.

At the same time, the Mombasa Governor was barred from transferring funds from his CFC Stanbic Bank account until the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) completes his tax returns assessment.

The said order would remain in force for a period of 30 days. The orders were granted after KRA moved to court on March 30 seeking the prohibitive order against Governor Joho claiming that he has not filed any returns since the year 2014.

The court heard that despite declaring nil tax returns, the governor is the registered owner of two high-end motor vehicles, a Rolls Royce KBR 001R and a Porsche Cayenne KCC 001J.

Joho has been at loggerheads with the Jubilee administration even accusing the government of hatching a plot to assassinate him during the chaotic ODM rally in Migori on Monday where his body guard sustained gunshot injuries.