Tana River Governor meets academic threshold, court rules

Tana River County Governor Dhadho Godhana

The High Court in Malindi on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the  academic credentials of Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana.

In his ruling, High Court Judge Justice Asenath Ongeri quashed the petition filed by a resident, Mohamed Hatu, saying the Kenyan Commission for University Education has authenticated Governor Godhana’s degree certificate.

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“I find that there is no basis for seeking to have the 3rd respondent to conduct a fresh gubernatorial election in Tana River County on the basis of the issue of the academic qualification of the 1st respondent as the interested party has confirmed that the 1st respondent is qualified to vie, this petition is accordingly dismissed,” said Justice Ongeri.

Through his lawyers, Mr. Hatu had accused Governor Godhana’s for forging his degree papers from Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Tanzania which has its main university in Irealand.

He further argued that the governor contravened laws laid by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC’s) by not fulfilling requirements of a person vying for elective office.

However, Justice Ongeri has ordered petitioner Hatu to pay the court Kshs.2 million petition costs to be awarded to the respondents.

The county boss has yet another pending case in the court following a petition filed by former Governor Hussein Dado contesting Godhana’s  gubernatorial election after the August 8, General Election.