Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi receives a honarary degree from Northwestern Christian University/HANDOUT
A row has erupted over operations of the Northwestern Christian University-Kenya after the Commission for University Education (CUE) said it had launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of degrees by the institution, which is not recognised in the country.
Efforts by the Star to get a comment from the officials of the university could not be traced because they have no physical location in the country and mostly operate online.
However, junior officials of the university based in Eldoret said they were not authorised to comment on behalf of the institution.
The university came into the spotlight last week after it awarded honorary degrees to lawmakers, including Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), and John Waluke (Sirisia).
Last year, it had also awarded a similar degree to nominated MP Joseph Wainaina.
A copy of the degree certificate issued to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi/HANDOUT
After last week’s move to issue the degrees to three MPs, an uproar erupted after professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineers in Kenya raised concerns about the criteria the university uses to award the degrees.
The Institute of Engineers raised questions and issued demands after the title of Engineer was used on the certificate issued to MP Sudi.
In a statement on Monday, CUE said Northwestern Christian University is unaccredited in Kenya and that any academic credentials issued by the institution are not recognised locally.
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the entity operating in Kenya by the name Northwestern Christian University is an unaccredited institution," the statement reads in part.
"This fact was brought to the attention of the public by the Commission in a newspaper advertisement 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, 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.
"Kenyans are hereby informed that awarding academic qualifications by unaccredited institutions is a direct violation of the Universities Act, CAP 210, which prohibits the provision of university education without accreditation," said CUE.
After being awarded the honorary degree, Sudi said education is good, although many people believe he never went to school, his work proved he was a champion for education.
He said he was currently educating more than 50 children through his own resources because he values education. The MP said many things had been said about him and some of his political colleagues, but his focus remained to serve all Kenyans to the best of his ability.
“We thank the university, and we will look into ways of supporting it to expand and educate more of our people," Sudi said.
He said it was important for leaders and all Kenyans with the necessary capacity to help the less unfortunate in society, especially during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The honorary degree to Sudi and the other legislators was awarded by top officials of the university, led by country director of the university, Professor Ezine Enos.
Sirisia MP John Waluke was also awarded a similar degree in Leadership Administration and Management. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa was also listed for an award of a similar degree, but he was not present during the ceremony.
Professor Enos said the move to award the degrees was in recognition of the work and role of the recipients in their public work.
“Their leadership qualities and capacities are well known, and as a university we decided to honour them to recognize what they have been doing”, said Enos.
Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri was the chief guest at the event.
