The University of Nairobi (UoN) has been forced to pay a former student Sh500,000 for withholding his certificates because he had forged his transcripts.
Kisumu High Court judge David Majanja made this directive on Thursday after the student, Alfred Arungo, filed the petition in a bid to retrieve his documents from the institution since his certificates were confiscated.
The High Court judge indicated that the money will act as compensation for the damages for violation of his rights.
According to Justice Majanja, the University failed to inform the student of the allegations against him.
“The totality of the evidence before the court is that although the University knew of the allegations against the petitioner, it never informed the petitioner and proceeded to take adverse and arbitrary action against him,” Justice Majanja noted.
[caption caption="DVC Henry Mutoko and Isaac Mbeche"]
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The student was also awarded an additional Sh50,000 to cover the costs used during the petition.
During the court hearing, deputy vice-chancellor Henry Mutoro noted that the institution got information that the former student had forged the university transcript software, rubber stamp and signature of the Law School dean.
The student allegedly made copies of transcripts for his father in the course of studies.
Mr Arunga graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Law degree.
[caption caption="UoN Law students during a graduation ceremony"]
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When he went to collect his original original transcipts, his degree certificate was confiscated, he was verbally informed that his document was seized and he would not be given the original transcripts.
The school administration noted that it had received some information that he had graduated through deceit and fraud.
