Aston Lukoye
Renowned Constitutional Lawyer and Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi have voiced his reaction to the recent withdrawal of the Leadership Integrity Award (State/Public Officer) from Mr Noordin Haji by Transparency International Kenya.
In his statement, Abdullahi raised concerns about the decision, highlighting the potential influence of tribal interests and xenophobia on hitherto credible institutions.
Ahmednasir Abdullahi post
Expressing his views on social media, Abdullahi stated, “When hitherto credible institutions are captured by small minds and petty tribal interests that are consumed by Somali phobia and xenophobia…hate them or not! SOMALIS ARE HERE TO STAY!”
When hitherto credible institutions are captured by small minds and petty tribal interests that are consumed but Somali phobia and xenophobia…hate them or not! SOMALIS ARE HERE TO STAY! pic.twitter.com/oTpuJ62mLV
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) May 26, 2023
The lawyer’s statement seemed to allude to the possibility that the withdrawal decision might be driven by biases or prejudice rather than a fair assessment of Haji’s performance.
- Related post: Why Noordin Haji Has Lost Leadership Integrity Award
Transparency citations
Transparency International Kenya announced the withdrawal of the Leadership Integrity Award conferred upon Noordin Haji in 2019, citing concerns raised about the withdrawal of high-profile corruption cases. The organization noted that these cases, for which Haji had previously been recognized, resulted in the loss of public funds. Transparency International Kenya emphasized its unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity.
The decision to withdraw the award follows an assessment conducted by Transparency International Kenya, prompted by public petitions and concerns raised by partners advocating for integrity in Kenya. The organization indicated that it had received detailed information and evidence from the National Integrity Alliance, which highlighted the extent to which Haji had allegedly deviated from his responsibility as the Director of Public Prosecutions, eroding public confidence in his office.
