The Commission for University Education (CUE) has declared Northwestern Christian University, which operates in Kenya, as an unaccredited institution, warning that any academic qualifications issued by the university are not recognized locally.
In a statement issued yesterday, CUE revealed it is investigating the institution over the issuance of degrees and vowed to take legal action upon completing its inquiries. “This fact was brought to the attention of the public in June 2023 through a newspaper advert,” the statement read. “It was made explicitly clear that the institution was not accredited to offer any university education in Kenya.”
CUE emphasized that awarding academic credentials without accreditation is a direct violation of the Universities Act, CAP 210, and reiterated that the law prohibits such operations. Kenyans were urged to consult the CUE website for a list of accredited universities and approved programmes to avoid falling victim to fraudulent institutions.
The controversial institution has recently come under fire for awarding honorary degrees to several Members of Parliament, including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, and Sirisia MP John Waluke. Among these, Sudi’s honorary doctorate has drawn the most attention.
The Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK) has directed Northwestern Christian University to revoke Sudi’s honorary degree after the certificate included the title “Engineer.” The EBK stated that this violated the Engineers Act, 2011, and noted that it had received numerous public complaints regarding the misuse of the title.
Sudi was awarded the degree during the university’s 17th graduation ceremony on December 21. The EBK has since clarified that honorary degrees do not entitle recipients to professional titles, and warned against the unauthorized use of protected titles like “Engineer.”
CUE and EBK have promised strict measures to ensure accountability, as the controversy continues to attract widespread public and legal scrutiny.
