Kenyans have been in the spotlight over the authenticity of degree certificates, much of which politicians seeking various political seats have been facing a litmus taste on their education qualification.
And in an intensified crackdown against fake degrees, the Great Lakes University – Kisumu (GLUK) has revoked 169 degrees it said were not recognized by the institution.
“The Governing Council and Management of the Great Lakes University of Kisumu are concerned over the increased number of academic fraud cases brought to our attention. In particular, the incident of 169 unsuspecting students who enrolled with Baraton College Limited (Eldoret) and purportedly graduated with Academic Degrees that are fraudulently branded with Great Lakes University of Kisumu credentials on the 17th December 2021 at their college grounds,” read the notice from GLUK.
The institution alleged that some institutions in the country have been using its logo to issue fake degree certificates to a number of Kenyans.
The University has since released graduation dates that can be used to authenticate degrees from the University.
“Any member of the public in possession of such degrees/certificates not conferred/awarded on the aforementioned dates and at an official congregation of the university should be warned that legal action shall be taken against them.”
Fake degrees have been a subject of discussion for the past 21 days, at a time when Kenyans seeking to occupy the seat of governor and president in the August 9, 2022 general election have been forced to defend legitimacy of their degrees before courts.
First on the drawing line was Safina party presidential aspirant Jimmy Wanjigi who sought clearance from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yet his had not qualified because he is yet to graduate. IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati slammed beaks on his ambitious journey.
Another popular politician was Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja whose case has been marred by controversy and at some point, the Commission for University Education (CUE) revoked his papers which he acquired from Uganda’s Team University.
The Commission’s chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha later rescinded his decision to revoke Sakaja’s degree pending investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Sakaja has since been cleared by IEBC to run for governor.
Other gubernatorial aspirants whose degree certificates have been questioned but cleared by IEBC are Wavinya Ndeti of Machakos, and Cleophas Malala of Kakamega.
A gesture by GLUK comes after Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha, suggesting that there should be mandatory verification of all degrees in the country.
“No Judge can give you a degree or even the IEBC. A degree must come from a university. In fact, I do not have powers but if I had, I would say that because of all this noise that everybody’s degree should now be checked,” stated Magoha.
