BY SAM ALFAN.
University of Nairobi followed the due process in deregistering Meru Senator Mithika Linturi as its law student.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir representing the institution said that the senator was accorded fair hearing before he was deregistered over the allegations of presenting fake papers to get admission.
“Once the University found out that the student’s admission papers were fake, it acted according to its Act because something which was generated illegally cannot be allowed,” said Kipkorir.
A Judgement will be delivered on April 5, 2018.
Lawyer Kipkorir had with him all the requisite documents including minutes of the meetings that the University Committee held before it made a decision to deregister him.
Senator Linturi, he said was present throughout the whole process and he even had a chance to defend himself.
UoN got wound of the doubts on the Senator’s papers after the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) wrote a letter directing it to deregister him.
Senator Linturi was expelled from the university forthwith.
“The petition by Linturi lacks merit and legality and accepting it is like awarding a thief who have stolen from a bank and build a Hospital,” said Kipkorir.
Senator Linturi through lawyer Tom Ojienda and James Orengo said the University acted against the law by deregistering him since he was not accorded fair hearing.
“EACC conducted the investigations and made conclusions before Linturi appeared before it so that they can hear his side,” said Ojienda.
Ojienda added that the matter arose from someone who wanted to run for the position of the Meru Senator which is being held Linturi.
“He added that if one has a degree from any recognized University you are qualified to sturdy the law,” said Prof Ojienda.
Prof Ojienda said that Linturi got a B- at KCSE and he was qualified to study law at the UON.
He added that the University acted in bad faith and prayed the court to quash the decision by UON to de-register Linturi.
Lawyer Edwin Waudo for the EACC however disapproved Senator Linturi’s assertion that he met all the requirements to be admitted at the University of Nairobi because even the letter from KNEC indicates that he got a C- and not B- as he claims.
“A law student must satisfy the minimum university entry point. Mr Linturi did not,” said Waudo.
