Plans to ouster Garissa County Secretary Mursal mooted over dual citizenship claims
Trouble is brewing at the Garissa County government amid ouster plans against the Garissa County Secretary over allegations that he is a holder of dual citizenship of both Kenya and the United Kingdom, investigations by The Informer Media Group have established.
Also, confusion is rife over the actual official names the County Secretary Mohamud Hassan Mursal bear after it emerged his United Kingdom passport goes by the name of Hassan Youssuf Mohamud which depicts identity of a different person.
According impeccable sources privy with the goings on that have sharply divided the county executive and the assembly, the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) of Garissa are citing Article 78 (2) on Citizenship and Section 52 of the Leadership and Integrity Act of the Kenyan constitution 2010 that bar state officers from being holders of dual citizenship.
“We want to authenticate this issue and if full disclosure was made during vetting. Ultimately, we will seek his ouster if he holds dual citizenship.” Our source intimated.
However, when contacted for comment, Mohamud did not respond to our short text messages and phone calls.
“We will also seek the intervention of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) to investigate this issue with the view of establishing the nationality of the County Secretary so that appropriate action can be taken. We believe that governor Nathif Jama Adams erred in appointing him against the provisions of Chapter Six of the constitution on Leadership and Integrity.” Our source added.
In 2021, Kenya enacted a new law that bars people holding dual citizenship from serving in the foreign service.
Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the law sponsored by the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations of Kenya’s National Assembly that effectively barred holders two citizenships from assuming foreign service jobs unless they relinquish the foreign one before being eligible for appointment as ambassadors.
In the past, controversy arose after a dual national was nominated to be Ambassador to South Korea.
The National Assembly in 2019 had approved the nomination of Mwende Mwinzi, but imposed a caveat that she could not report to duty until she renounces her American citizenship.
She then went to court, which ruled she could not renounce either of her citizenship as it was acquired by birth. The High Court, however, said ambassadorial positions were sensitive national assignments. Mwinzi has since been appointed ambassador to South Korea.
The law closed the door on any other dual national from holding a similar position.
Section 23 of the new law says that heads of missions abroad or consuls-general must not hold dual or multiple nationalities.
Mohamud is a career administrator and previously served as a District Officer (DO).
