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Oscar Sudi’s ‘Doctorate’ Exposed As Northwestern Christian University Linked To Fake Degrees And Unlawful Titles

The recent conferment of an honorary doctorate upon Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi by Northwestern Christian University has ignited controversy.

The ceremony, held at the Eldoret National Polytechnic, saw Sudi receive a Doctorate in Leadership, Administration, and Management.

However, questions have arisen regarding the legitimacy of both the awarding institution and the degree itself.

Northwestern Christian University, based in Florida, USA, has been under the spotlight for its operations within Kenya.

In June 2023, the Commission for University Education (CUE) in Kenya listed this university among 13 institutions illegally offering academic programs without proper accreditation.

https://twitter.com/C_NyaKundiH/status/1871513089037709487?s=19

CUE explicitly warned the public against enrolling in these institutions, stating that any degrees issued would not be recognized in Kenya.

Further complicating matters, the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK) has raised objections to the use of the title “Eng.” in reference to Sudi.

The honorary degree certificate reportedly included this title, which is legally reserved for individuals registered as Professional and Consulting Engineers with the EBK.

The Board has ordered the university to recall the honorary degree and remove the unauthorized title, emphasizing that such misuse undermines the integrity of the engineering profession and violates the Engineers Act, 2011.

Adding to the controversy, emails purportedly from Northwestern Christian University have surfaced online, alleging that the degree awarded to Sudi is counterfeit.

These emails claim that a fraudulent entity in Kenya was using the university’s name and logo to issue fake degrees and has since been shut down.

However, lawyer Miguna Miguna has cast doubt on the authenticity of these emails, suggesting that they may have been written by individuals in Kenya impersonating university administrators.

This incident is not the first time Sudi’s academic qualifications have come under scrutiny.

In October 2016, he was charged with forgery of academic certificates, including a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate and a diploma from the Kenya Institute of Management.

After years of legal proceedings, Sudi was acquitted of all charges in June 2024 due to what the court described as a botched police investigation.

The recent honorary degree award has prompted public outcry and raised concerns about the proliferation of unaccredited institutions issuing dubious academic qualifications.

CUE has reiterated its commitment to investigating the circumstances surrounding the purported award and has indicated that appropriate legal measures will be taken against any unaccredited institutions operating illegally.

It is imperative for individuals and organizations to exercise due diligence in verifying the accreditation status of educational institutions before accepting or publicizing academic honors.

The integrity of academic and professional titles must be upheld to maintain public trust and ensure that genuine qualifications are not devalued by the issuance of fraudulent degrees.

The spotlight remains on both Northwestern Christian University and Oscar Sudi, with the public and relevant authorities keenly observing the developments to ensure accountability and the preservation of educational standards in Kenya.