Four suspects were arrested at the White Sands Hotel in Mombasa County for allegedly running a fake university that conferred Master’s and PhD degrees after just three days of training.
Among those apprehended were two foreign nationals; Dayis Lawrence Bennett, an American, and Farah Akab from Pakistan alongside Ekra Ndung’u and Josephine Ndune, both Kenyan citizens.
The arrests were made by officers from Bamburi Police Station after receiving reports of the group’s dubious activities.
The suspects were found issuing fraudulent degrees, including three Master of Business Administration (Leadership and Management) and two honorary PhDs in Leadership (Hon. Causa), to excited participants during a ceremony that was abruptly halted by law enforcement.
The accused were arraigned before the Shanzu Law Courts, facing charges of Conferring Degrees Without Accreditation of Foreign Universities contrary to Section 28(2) as read with Section 5 of the Universities Act.
They all entered pleas of not guilty and were granted bail set at Ksh 400,000 with similar surety or a cash bail option of Ksh 300,000.
The passports of the two foreign nationals were also deposited in court to prevent flight risks. The case is scheduled for mention on February 18, 2025.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against fraudulent certification schemes.
The agency cautioned the public to be vigilant and verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling in any academic programs.
Authorities have intensified efforts to clamp down on academic fraud as concerns grow over the proliferation of unaccredited institutions exploiting unsuspecting students.
The crackdown serves as a stark reminder of the importance of legitimate education and the consequences of deceit.
