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The legitimacy of honorary doctorate degrees awarded to some members of parliament has come under scrutiny.
This follows revelations by the Commission for University Education (CUE) that Northwestern Christian University, the issuing institution, is unaccredited in Kenya.
The CUE announced that the university was not authorised to offer university-level education in the country.
This declaration invalidates the degrees conferred upon lawmakers Oscar Sudi, Didmus Barasa, and John Waluke during the institution’s recent graduation ceremony.
The commission emphasised that it had informed the public in June 2023 about the institution's unaccredited status.
“NorthWestern Christian University is not accredited nor authorised to offer any university education in Kenya. Credentials issued are not recognised in Kenya,” CUE CEO Professor Mike Kuria said.
Further controversy arose as the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) flagged the inclusion of the title “Engineer” in a certificate issued to MP Oscar Sudi.
The board noted that this violates the Engineers Act of 2011, which prohibits the use of professional engineering titles by unregistered individuals.
EBK has demanded that the university recall the certificate, remove the unauthorised title, and issue a corrected version.
Questions have also been raised about the authenticity of the certificates.
Observers noted discrepancies between the circulated certificates and official samples displayed on the university’s website, including differing signatures purportedly from the university president.
In response to the controversy, the CUE has initiated investigations into the matter and indicated that legal action against the issuing institution is under consideration.
This unfolding saga highlights the importance of ensuring academic institutions adhere to accreditation standards to protect the integrity of academic qualifications in Kenya.