Engineers board order withdrawal of Sudi’s doctorate conferment as CUE launch probe against Northwestern Christian University-Kenya
The Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK) has directed Northwestern Christian University-Kenya to withdraw Kapseret Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Sudi’s honorary Doctorate degree certificate, citing unauthorised use of the title “Engineer” even as the Commission for University Education (CUE) launched probe into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of degrees by varsity it insists is unrecognised in Kenya.
The honorary degree, awarded on December 21 during the university’s 17th graduation ceremony, included the title “Eng.” on the certificate, a move the board deemed a violation of the Engineers Act, 2011. EBK has instructed the university to issue a corrected certificate without the professional title.
The university has recently come under public scrutiny for awarding honorary degrees to lawmakers, including Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) and John Waluke (Sirisia). Professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineers in Kenya, raised concerns about the criteria the university uses to award the degrees.
In a statement yesterday, CUE underscored that Northwestern Christian University is unaccredited in Kenya and that any academic credentials issued by the institution are not recognised locally.
“The Commission has taken note of widely circulating media reports on purported issuance of honorary doctorates in Kenya by an entity going by the name Northwestern Christian University. The Commission wishes to inform the public that the entity operating in Kenya by the name Northwestern Christian University is unaccredited institution,” CUE statement reads in part.
“This fact was brought to the attention of the public by the Commission in a newspaper advert published in June 2023. It was made explicitly clear that the institution was not accredited to offer any university education in Kenya and that any purported credentials issued would not be recognized in Kenya.” CUE added.
CUE, the sole regulator of university education in Kenya, further warned that the issuance of academic qualifications by unaccredited institutions is illegal and that it is allowed by law to pursue legal action against such entities.
In a separate quick dispatch to newsrooms, EBK revealed that it had received numerous complaints from the public regarding the misuse of the title “Engineer” in the honorary degree.
“The unauthorized use of this title undermines the integrity of the engineering profession and is a punishable offence under the Kenyan Constitution,” EBK stated.
The Engineers Act reserves the title “Eng.” exclusively for Professional and Consulting Engineers registered by the board. The Act explicitly prohibits unregistered individuals from using professional engineering titles, prescribing penalties for such violations.
Oscar Sudi was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Leadership, Administration, and Management in recognition of his contributions to leadership and public service. The recognition, however, sparked controversy due to his previous legal battles over his academic qualifications, which he ultimately won in court.
EBK maintained that the inclusion of the title “Engineer” in the honorary degree certificate was unauthorised and contravened professional guidelines. The board reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the credibility and integrity of the engineering profession.
“Kenyans are hereby informed that awarding of academic qualifications by unaccredited institutions is a direct violation of the Universities Act, CAP 210 which prohibits the provision of university education without accreditation,” CUE said.
“Further, while Sections 69 and 69A empower the Commission to pursue legal action against any individuals or entities operating illegally. The Commission is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the purported award of degrees by Northwestern Christian University.” It added.
The commission added that upon concluding investigations it will take appropriate action against Northwestern Christian University.
It advised members of the public to access a list of accredited Universities and the programmes on offer through direct consultation or the CUE website.
