The Commission on Administrative Justice has issued a 21-day notice to the Registrar of Societies. This is in relation to its inaction on a complaint over the alleged fraudulent registration of a Muslim association in Eldoret.
In a letter seen by Uasin Gishu News, the Ombudsman demanded that the Registrar of Societies respond to the complaint.
The complaint, Jamal Diriwo Omari, had claimed a group of Muslims in Eldoret illegally registered an organization using information and supporting documents pertaining to Muslim Association Mosque Committee Eldoret.
Omari, in his complaint to the Registrar of Societies, wanted information on whether the said Muslim Association Mosque Committee was duly registered or not.
“It came to their (Jamal Diriwo Omari) attention that another entity/society by the name of Muslim Association Mosque Committee had been fraudulently registered,” read part of the Ombudsman letter to the Registrar of Societies.
The letter dated May 29, 2024, is signed by Franklin Lilako on behalf of the Commission’s Secretary.
Respond clearly
“This is therefore to request you to respond to the above clearly indicating your position with regard to the above concerns. In light of the urgency of the matter, we look forward to hearing from you within twenty-one days of receipt of this letter,” the letter added.
According to the Ombudsman records, the Eldoret Muslim youth leader first sought the said information in November 2023 but to date he is yet to receive a response.
The letter was written on the basis of the Access to Information Act.
Access to Information Act 2016, Part II, Section 4 provides that every citizen has the right of access to information held by—(a) the State; and(b)another person and where that information is required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.
The Act further provides that a person found in its contravention commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.
With the latest directive from the Ombudsman, the Registrar of Societies is now expected to issue a status that will being to an end row over the management of the Eldoret Mosque Committee assets.
The assets spread across Eldoret Municipality are believed to be valued at billions of shillings.
Jamal Omari previously accused association officials of mismanaging the assets and illegally allocating some to themselves.
