[2020] KEHC 9493 (KLR)

[2020] KEHC 9493 (KLR)

The court found that although the doctrine of exhaustion generally requires parties to utilize internal remedies before seeking judicial intervention, exceptional circumstances existed in this case because the Petitioner was not made aware of the disciplinary proceedings or the right to appeal in time, and the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] KEHC 9493 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Lennoxie Nafuma Lusabe; Respondent: Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Petition 364 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
Petition allowed. Judgment entered for the Petitioner.
Legal Topics
Fair Administrative Action, Right to Education, Disciplinary Procedure, Discrimination, Student Rights, Procedural Fairness
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Education Law Fair Administrative Action Right to Education Disciplinary Procedure Discrimination Student Rights +1 more

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Parties

Lennoxie Nafuma Lusabe

Applicant

Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the matter in light of the doctrine of exhaustion of internal remedies.
  2. 2 Whether the Respondent infringed the Petitioner’s constitutional rights to fair administrative action, non-discrimination, and education.
  3. 3 Whether the disciplinary process accorded to the Petitioner met the standards of procedural fairness under the Constitution and Fair Administrative Action Act.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that although the doctrine of exhaustion generally requires parties to utilize internal remedies before seeking judicial intervention, exceptional circumstances existed in this case because the Petitioner was not made aware of the disciplinary proceedings or the right to appeal in time, and the avenue for appeal had closed through no fault of his own. The Respondent failed to provide adequate and individual notice of the disciplinary hearing, did not inform the Petitioner of the charges against him, and did not give him an opportunity to defend himself, thereby violating the requirements of fair administrative action under Article 47 of the Constitution and the Fair...

Court Disposition

Petition allowed. Judgment entered for the Petitioner.

Orders

  • A declaration is issued that the Petitioner’s rights under Articles 27, 43(1)(f) and 47 of the Constitution were violated by the Respondent.
  • A declaration is issued that the suspension of the Petitioner from the Respondent University was null and void ab initio and an order is issued directing the Respondent to readmit him forthwith so that he can continue with his studies.