Republic v Dedan Kimathi University Of Technology Ex-parte Juma Ombolo Simon [2016] KEHC 439 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NYERI

JUDICIAL REVIEW  CAUSE  NO. 13 OF 2016

In the matter of  an application by Juma Ombolo Simon for leave to apply for Judicial Review Orders  of Certiorari, Mandamus & Prohibition

And

In the matter of Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

And

The Universities Act, 2012

and the Fair Administrative Action Act, 2015

BETWEEN

The Republic.............................................................................................................Applicant

and

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.............................................…......Respondent

and

Juma Ombolo Simon .………………………………………...............Ex parte Applicant

RULING

The necessary background information for the determination of the application before me is that by an ex parte chamber summons expressed under Order 53  Rule 1 (1), (2)and(4) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010, dated 2nd August 2016 the applicant herein, moved this honourable court seeking orders inter alia :-

a. Thatthis matter be certified urgent and be heard ex parte on priority basis.

b. Thatthe applicant be granted leave to apply for a institute Judicial Review order of certiorari directed to the RespondentDedan Kimathi University of Technology to bring into Court and quash the resolution of the examination Disciplinary Committee dated the 6 June 2016 and of the vice chancellor of the 15 July 2016 suspending the applicant for one academic year and dismissing his appeal respectively.

c.Thatthe applicant be granted  leave to apply for Judicial review order of prohibition to prohibit the Respondent or any other party acting on its behalf from implementing the decision of the Examination Disciplinary committee dated the 6th July 2016 or in any manner whatsoever violating the applicants' constitutional right to a fair administrative action;

d.Thatthe applicant be granted leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling  the Respondent to mark and award marks to the applicant in EMT 2102 Material Science, to generally produce his results for the 2nd semester of the 1st academic year and admit the applicant back to complete his education at Dedan Kimathi Univerdsity of Technology.

e. Thatthe grant of leave in prayers 2, 3, and 4 hereinafter do operate as stay of the decision of the respondent dated 6th June 2016.

f. Thatthe costs of this application be costs in the cause.

The application was premised on the grounds stated on the face of the application, namely, That the respondent's Examination Disciplinary Committee acted as prosecutor, Judge, Jury and Executioner while making the decision dated 6th June 2016 and further that:-

a.Thatneither the respondent's Examination Disciplinary Committee nor the vice chancellor gave reasons for reaching their respective decisions.

b. Thatneither the respondent's Examination Disciplinary Committee nor the vice chancellor gave reasons for reaching their respective decisions.

c. Thatthe respondent's Examinations disciplinary committee did not give the applicant a fair hearing and most particularly did not inform the  applicant of his right to call witnesses and generally denied him an opportunity to call witnesses contrary to regulation 6. 3.4 (ii).

d. Thatthe examination disciplinary committee and the vice chancellor demonstrated open bias against the applicant and his fate was sealed ab initio.

e.Thatthe decisions by the examinations disciplinary committee dated 6 June 2016 and the Vice Chancellor dated 15 July 2015 are illegal, arbitrary, unreasonable and unlawful.

The annexed statement reiterates that  the applicant sat for an examination on 12th April 2016 and upon  the invigilator suspecting him of being in possession of unauthorized materials, he was summoned to the  examination disciplinary committee. He avers that he was not supplied with  a copy of the invigilators report to enable him to defend himself against the charges, nor was he allowed to defend himself, and that no details were provided for the examination regulations he allegedly violated. He states that the decision in question is unreasonable and that he exhausted all the available remedies.

On 3rd August 2016 the applicants counsel appeared before Waweru J ex parte and  the learned judge  granted the applicant leave in terms of prayers (b), (c) & (d) stated above. However, as provided in the proviso to Order 53 Rule 4of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010, the learned judge  directed that the application be served upon the Respondent  for hearing for determination on the question of whether or not the leave hereinabove  granted shall operate as a stay pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application. The said proviso provides as follows:-

Provided that where the circumstances so require, the judge may direct that the application be served for hearing inter partes before grant of leave. Provided further that where the circumstances so require the judge may direct that the question of leave and whether grant of leave shall operate as stay may be heard and determined separately within seven days.

The importance of obtaining leave in a judicial review application was well captured in the words of Waki J ( as he then was) in the case of  Republic vs County Council of Kwale& Another Ex-parte Kondo & 57 others[1] where he stated:-

“ is to eliminate at an early stage any applications for judicial review which are either frivolous, vexatious or hopeless and secondly to ensure that the applicant is only allowed to proceed to substantive hearing if the court is satisfied that there is a case for further consideration. The requirement that leave must be obtained before making an application for judicial review is designed to prevent the time of the court being wasted by busy bodies with misguided or trivial complaints or administrative error, and to remove the uncertainty in which public officers and authorities might be left as to whether they could safely proceed with administrative action while proceedings for judicial review of it were actually pending even though misconceived..”

Guidance can be obtained from the decision  in Meixner & Another vs A.G,[2]where it was held that the leave of court is a prerequisite to making a substantive application for Judicial Review with a view to filtering out frivolous applications and the grant or refusal involves an exercise of judicial discretion and the test to be applied is whether the applicant has an arguable case.

The first step in the judicial review procedure involves the mandatory "leave stage." At this stage an application for leave to bring judicial review proceedings must first be made. The leave stage is used to identifyand filterout, at an early stage, claims which may be trivial or without merit. At the leave stage an applicant must show that he/she has 'sufficient interest' in[3]the matter otherwise known as locus standi. In other words, the applicant must demonstrate  that he/she is affected in some way by the decision being challenged. An applicant must also show that he/she has an arguable case and that the case has a reasonable chance of success. The application must be concerned with a public law matter, i.e. the action must be based on some rule of public law. The decision complained of must have been taken by a public body, that is a body established by statute or otherwise exercising a public function.

Thus, at the leave stage, the applicant has the burden of demonstrating that the decision is illegal, unfairandirrational as discussed above. The applicant must persuade the court that the application raises a serious issue. This is a low threshold. A serious issue is demonstrated if the judge believes that the applicant has raised an arguable issue that can only be resolved by a full hearing of the judicial review application. If the court is not persuaded as aforesaid, leave will be denied and the matter proceeds no further.

The Respondent filed a replying affidavit sworn by a one Professor Jennifer Wanjiku Khamasi, the Registrar, Academic affairs, Dedan Kimathi     University of Technology who averred inter alia that  the application is misconceived and incompetent, that the applicant was on 12th April 2016 caught with exam irregularities  by the invigilator a  one Vincent Kiganya who was accompanied by Benson Kilonzo and Martin Kamande and  she exhibited the invigilators record form in support of the said averment. She averred that the applicant was found in possession of handwritten notes in the examination venue, which notes were material relevant to the particular examination paper and that he was invited for a disciplinary hearing vide a letter dated 6th May 2016 and the disciplinary committee heard  his case on 19th April 2016. She averred that the composition of the disciplinary  committee was in accordance with the relevant statutes and  at the conclusion of the hearing the committee returned a guilty verdict, namely; (a) cancellation of the relevant examination results, (b) suspension from the University for one academic year to resume studies in January 2016, (c) To graduate with a pass, (d) to be issued with a stern warning that any future violation of the examination rules and regulations will led to expulsion from the university.

She further averred that the above verdict was communicated to the student in writing, and added that the appeals committee considered the appeal but upheld the said verdict and that the two bodies followed the laid down procedure.

The applicant did not list the application for determination of the question or not leave herein granted would operate as an order of stay. Instead the applicant filed the substantive application now the subject of this ruling on 24th August 2016 and the grounds relied upon are essentially as enumerated above.

In his submissions, counsel for the ex parte applicant submitted inter alia that of all the regulations cited by the Respondent, none of them prohibits 'being found with unauthorized material during examination' and stated that the acts in questions violated the provisions of sections 4 (2) and  6 of the  Fair Administrative action Act.[4]  He also submitted that the applicant was not given a fair hearing. Counsel also submitted that the decision in question violated the applicants constitutional[5] right to education.

Counsel   for the Respondent submitted that the ex parte applicant does not deny that he was given a notice vide the letter dated 6th May 2016 nor does he deny appearing before the  Disciplinary Committee on 19th April 2016. Counsel referred to a statement written by the applicant dated 12th April 2016, minutes of the  disciplinary hearing which confirms that he was heard and gave a verbal mitigation and wondered why the ex parte applicant was mitigating if at all he was not heard as alleged. Counsel submitted that reasons were offered for the decisions in question. Counsel also submitted that the applicant never indicated that he wished to call witnesses nor did he provide names of witnesses in his affidavit. Counsel took the view that the provisions of section 4 (2) of Fair Administrative Action cited above were fully complied with. Counsel also stated that the penalty prescribed is provided for hence not draconian.

The issue before me for determination is (b)whether or not the applicant is entitled to the reliefs sought.

Judicial review is about the decision making process, not the decision itself. The role of the court in judicial review is supervisory. It is not an appeal and should not attempt to adopt the 'forbidden appellate approach' This raises the question "what is a Judicial Review? Judicial review is the review by a judge of the High Court of a  decision; proposed decision; or refusal to exercise a power of decision to determine whether that decision or action is unauthorized or invalid. It is referred to as supervisory jurisdiction - reflecting the role of the courts to supervise the exercise of power by those who hold it to ensure that it has been lawfully exercised.

Judicial review is a judicial invention to ensure that a decision by the executive or a public body was made according to law, even if the decision does not otherwise involve an actionable wrong. The superior Courts developed their review jurisdiction to fulfill their function of administering justice according to law. The legitimacy of judicial review is based in the rule of law, and the need for public bodies to act according to law. Judicial review is a means to hold those who exercise public power accountable for the manner of its exercise, especially when decisions lie outside the effective control of the political process. The primary role of the Courts is to uphold the fundamental and enduring values that constitute the rule of law. As with any other form of governmental authority, discretionary exercise of public power is subject to the Courts supervision in order to ensure the paramountcy of the law.

Judicial review is not the same as an appeal. An appeal exists when a statute provides that a decision can be appealed to a court. In an appeal a judge will more clearly review the merits of the earlier decision. Judicial review is more concerned with the manner in which a decision is made than the merits or otherwise of the ultimate decision. As long as the processes followed by the decision-maker are proper, and the decision is within the confines of the law, a court will not interfere.

As was held in Republic v Attorney General & 4 others ex-parte Diamond Hashim Lalji and Ahmed Hasham Lalji[6]:-

“Judicial review applications do not deal with the merits of the case but only with the  process. In other words judicial review only determines whether the decision makers had the jurisdiction, whether the persons affected by the decision were heard before it was made and whether in making the decision the decision maker took into account relevant matters or did take into account irrelevant matters. It follows that where an applicant brings judicial review proceedings with a view to determining contested matters of facts and in effect urges the Court to determine the merits of two or more different versions presented by the parties the Court would not have jurisdiction in a judicial review proceeding to determine such a matter and will leave the parties to resort to the normal forums where such matters ought to be resolved. Therefore judicial review proceedings are not the proper forum in which the innocence or otherwise of the applicant is to be determined and a party ought not to institute judicial review proceedings with a view to having the Court determine his innocence or otherwise. To do so in my view amounts to abuse of the judicial process. The Court in judicial review proceedings is mainly concerned with the question of fairness to the applicant......."

The court has discretion to examine all the circumstances of the case and satisfy itself that the substantive grounds for review are serious enough.[7] As Sedley J put it in R vs Somerset CC Ex parte Dixon(COD)[8]:-

"Public law is not about rights, even though abuse of power may and often do invade private rights; it is about wrongs-that is to say misuse of public power."

Broadly, in order to succeed, the applicant will need to show either:-

a. the person or body is under a legal duty to act or make a decision in  certain  way and is unlawfully refusing or failing to do so; or

b. a decision or action that has been taken is 'beyond the powers' (in latin, 'ultra vires') of the person or body responsible for it.

In John Wachiuri T/A Githakwa Graceland & Wandumbi Bar & 50 Others  vs The County Government of Nyeri & Ano[9] this court had the occasion to discuss supervision of administrative decision making process, that is, did the public body act in a lawful manner in deciding the way it did and in  the above decision I emphasized that there are three categories of public law wrongs which are commonly used in cases of this nature. These are:-

a. Illegality- Decision makers must understand the law that regulates them. If they fail to follow the law properly, their decision, action or failure to act will be "illegal". Thus, an action  or decision may be illegal on the basis that the public body has no power to take that action or decision, or has acted beyond it powers.

b. Fairness- Fairness demands that a public body should never  act so unfairly that it amounts to abuse of power. This means that if there are express procedures laid down by legislation  that it must follow in order to reach a decision, it must follow them and it must not be in breach of the rules of natural justice. The body must act impartially, there must be fair hearing before a decision is reached.

c Irrationality and proportionality- The courts must intervene to quash a decision if they consider it to be demonstrably unreasonable as to constitute 'irrationality" or 'perversity' on the part of the decision maker. The benchmark decision on this principle of judicial review was made as long ago as 1948 in the celebrated decision of Lord Green in Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd vs Wednesbury  Corporation[10]:-

"If  decision on a competent matter is so unreasonable  that no reasonable authority could ever have come to it, then the courts can interfere...but to prove a case of that kind would require something overwhelming..."

The onus is on the applicant to establish irrationality or perversity. Broadly speaking, the grounds upon which the courts grant judicial review were stated in the case of Pastoli vs Kabale District Local Government Council and Others[11] where it was held as follows:-

“in order to succeed in an application for judicial review, the applicant has to show that the decision or act complained of is tainted …illegality  is when the decision making authority commits an error of law in the process of taking or making the act, the subject of the complaint. Acting without jurisdiction or ultra vires or contrary to the provisions of a law or its principles are instances of illegality. ………irrationalityis when there is such gross unreasonableness in the decision taken or act done, that no reasonable authority, addressing itself to the facts and the law before it, would have made such a decision. Such  decision is usually a defiance of logic and acceptable moral standards………..procedural impropriety is when there is a failure to act fairly on the part of the decision making authority in the process of taking a decision. The unfairness may be in non-observance of the rules of  natural justice……It may also involve failure to adhere and observe procedural rules expressly laid down in a statute or legislative instrument…..”

The grounds upon which the court can exercise its judicial review jurisdiction are incapable of exhaustive listing.[12] I also find useful guidance in the words of Nyamu J in Republic vs The Commissioner of Lands Ex Parte Lake Flowers Ltd[13]where he held as follows:-

“Availability of other remedies is no bar to the granting of the judicial relief but can however be an important factor in exercising the discretion whether or not to grant the relief….The high court has the same power as the high court in England up to 1977 and much more because it has the exceptional heritage of a written constitution and the doctrines of the common law and equity in so far as they are applicable and the courts must resist the temptation to try and contain judicial review in a strait jacket….Although judicial review has been bequeathed to us with defined interventions namely illegality, irrationality and impropriety of procedure the intervention has been in situations where authorities and persons act in bad faith, abuse power, fail to take into account relevant considerations in the decision making or take into account irrelevant considerations or act contrary to legitimate expectations…..Even on the principle of establishing standing for the purposes of judicial review the courts must resist being rigidly chained to the past defined situations of standing and look at the nature of the matter before them….Judicial review is  a tool of justice, which can be made to serve the needs of a growing society on a case to case basis……”

Judicial review stems from the doctrine of ultra vires and the rules of natural justice and has grown to become a legal tree with branches in illegality, irrationality, impropriety of procedure and become the most powerful enforcement of constitutionalism, one of the greatest promoters of rule of law and perhaps one of the greatest and most powerful tools against abuse of power and arbitrariness. [14] It has been said that the growth of judicial review can only be compared to the ever never ending categories of negligence after the celebrated case of Donoghue vs Stevenson in the last century.[15]

As was held in the case of Sanghani Investments Ltd vs Officer in charge Nairobi Remand and allocation Prison,[16] Section 8 of the Law Reform Act specifically sets out the orders that the High Court can issue in Judicial Review proceedings and the orders are Mandamus, Certiorari and Prohibition. Certiorari is a discretionary remedy, which a court may refuse to grant even when the requisite grounds for it exist. The court has to weigh one thing against another to see whether or not the remedy is the most efficacious in the circumstances obtaining. The discretion of the court being a judicial one must be exercised on the basis of evidence and sound legal principles.

Judicial review is primarily concerned with controlling the exercise by public bodies and statutory bodies on powers conferred upon them. The role of the court is to ensure that those bodies do not exercise those powers unlawfully. In Nasieku Tarayia vs Board of Directors, AFC & another[17] it was held that judicial review is an alternative remedy of last resort and where alternative remedy exists, the court has to be satisfied that judicial review is the more convenient, beneficial, efficacious alternative remedy available for the court to grant.

I have carefully evaluated the material before the court and I am not persuaded that the applicant has demonstrated sound grounds for the court to exercise its discretion in his favour and grant the reliefs sought. First, the ex parte applicant has not demonstrated that he did not understand the charges levelled against him nor did he demonstrate that he was not afforded an opportunity to rebut the allegation.  The examination offences and applicable penalties have not been shown to be unreasonable nor has it been demonstrate that the decision in question is tainted with illegality.

A University is an academic community. Its fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge.  Like all other communities, the University can function properly only if its members adhere to  clearly established goals and values. Essential to the fundamental purpose of the University is the  commitment to the principles of truth and academic honesty. Accordingly, University regulations such as those governing examinations as in the present case and attendant offences and penalties are designed to ensure that the principle of academic honesty is upheld. While all  members of the University share this responsibility, the  such strict regulations are designed so that special responsibility for upholding the principle of academic honesty lies with the students so as to avoid academic dishonesty and safe guard integrity of academic programs.

Academic dishonesty is a corrosive force in the academic life of a university and is an evil that must be fought zealously. It  jeopardizes the quality of education and depreciates the genuine achievements of others.  It is, without reservation, a responsibility of all members of the campus community to  actively deter it. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of academic dishonesty is not a  neutral act. Histories of institutions demonstrate that a laissez

-faireresponse will reinforce, perpetuate, and enlarge the scope of such misconduct. Institutional reputations for academic dishonesty are regrettable aspects of modern education. These reputations become self-fulfilling and grow, unless vigorously challenged by upholding and enforcing the relevant regulations.

The challenged decision has not been shown to be unlawful or malicious. The court cannot stop a lawful process. It can only intervene if is shown to be an abuse of the process, illegal or baseless or if it is prompted by ulterior motives or any such other motives other than furtherance of the law, relevant regulations and public interest. The applicant has not alleged  or proved any of the ingredients of a malicious or illegal process as stated herein or even violation of the University regulations. The alleged breach of the Fair Administrative Action Act has in my view not been proved.

Also, it has not been shown that the Respondent acted illegally. The Respondent is vested with powers to make the decision in question. No abuse of such powers has been alleged or proved.  It has not been shown that this power was not exercised as provided for under the law or regulations. The alleged allegations of unfairness have not been proved. It has not been proved or even alleged that the Respondent acted outside their powers or their decision was arrived at after taking into account irrelevant or extraneous matters. The applicant has not demonstrated that he did not engage in the alleged activities.

An administrative  decision can only be challenged  for illegality, irrationalityand procedural impropriety.A close look at the material presented before me does not demonstrate any of the above. The decision has not been shown to be illegal or ultra vires and outside the functions of the Respondent.

As stated earlier, the grant of leave to file judicial review proceedings as well as the ultimate  grant of the orders or certiorari, mandamus and prohibition is discretionary. The court is entitled to take into account the nature of the process against which judicial  review is sought and satisfy itself that their is reasonable basis to justify the orders sought.Upon analysing all the material before me and upon considering the arguments advanced by both sides, I find that the applicant has not satisfied the threshold for this court to grant orders sought. The effect is that the orders sought are hereby refused and the application dated 22nd August 2016 is hereby dismissed with costs to the Respondent.

Orders accordingly

Signed, Dated at Nyeri this 24thday ofNovember2016

John M. Mativo

Judge

Signed, Dated and Delivered   at Nyeri this 24thay ofNovember2016

Hon. Justice Jairus Ngaah

Judge