Court Dismisses Petition to Halt MMUST Graduation.
A petition filed by a Kakamega resident to stop Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s (MMUST) graduation ceremony has been dismissed by the court.
Justice Njagi Nderitu dismissed the petition after Johnson Litiema, the petitioner, failed to attend court on Tuesday for directions.
The judge criticized the petition as a publicity stunt, emphasizing that Litiema’s absence demonstrated a lack of seriousness in prosecuting his case. He declared the petition dismissed for being frivolous.
Grounds for the Petition
Litiema had sought to block MMUST’s 21st graduation, scheduled for December 11, on claims that the university council chairperson, Dr. Pamela Sitienei, did not possess a PhD, a qualification he argued was legally required for the role.
Additionally, he alleged he could not access the gazette notice confirming the appointment of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo.
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He requested the court to declare all decisions made by the two officials null and void and to halt the graduation until his petition was determined.
On November 27, Justice Nderitu instructed Litiema to serve the respondents and scheduled a hearing for Tuesday. However, Litiema did not comply with the directives.
Dr. Sitienei, through her lawyer Edwin Wawire, argued that the petition was driven by malice and ulterior motives.
She asserted that her appointment as council chairperson followed a thorough vetting process by the appointing authority, which confirmed her qualifications for the position. She also stated that Litiema had failed to provide evidence supporting his claims against her.
Chairperson Defends Her Position
Dr. Sitienei maintained that there was no basis for granting the orders sought by the petitioner, as no employment or labor dispute existed between her and the university.
She described Litiema as a disruptive individual being used to create unnecessary chaos at the institution.
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The court’s dismissal of the petition effectively allows the graduation ceremony to proceed as planned.
Court Dismisses Petition to Halt MMUST Graduation.
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