Professional bodies challenge honorary degrees awarded to MPs by Northwestern Christian University

The award of honorary degrees for lawmakers Oscar Sudi, Didmus Barasa, and John Waluke by Northwestern Christian University has sparked an uproar from professional bodies.

The Institution of Engineers of Kenya says the title "engineer" is protected by law, and its use without proper academic process is punishable by law. They argue that Sudi’s conferment with the title waters down academic discipline.

Hours after his controversial conferment of an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership Administration and Management from Northwestern Christian University, Sudi was up and about.

"Had I listened to people calling me names saying that I am not educated, I would have failed. I have worked hard by going to school and I have become an engineer. And I have gone ahead to study until I attained Doctorate," the Kapsaret lawmaker said.

"I wish I had come with my certificate so that you see a list of what I have studied. Now I am a Doctor. Those who used to call The President Dr. Ruto, I am now a Doctor like Ruto."

An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university waives the usual requirements and awards individuals for exceptional contributions to society. It transcends formal education and is an appreciation of outstanding accomplishments in different spheres.

The awarding of honorary degrees in Kenya is subject to each university’s policies, which outline eligibility and the administrative procedures, and involves a selection committee, often composed of professors, who review proposals before shortlisting candidates.

This is followed by public vetting through announcements in local newspapers and the university's online platform to receive submissions and comments from the public. The University Senate then approves the recommendations from the selection committee, and the Council ratifies them through the Vice-Chancellor.

Sudi's conferment of the honorary degree drew an immediate response from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, which questioned the award process and meritocracy.

"So, when we saw that Certificate, indicating Hon. Eng Sudi, and we know this is someone in the Engineers register, we said this is a joke gone too far. So, that is quite offensive because it breaks the law. And by the way, the penalty for breaking the law is Ksh. 500,000 or two years in jail or both under The Engineers Act of 2011," Eng. Shammah Kiteme, President of the Institution of Engineers in Kenya, said.

While Sudi’s award attracted criticism, different universities have awarded honorary degrees to various individuals.

The University of Nairobi, for instance, awarded honorary degrees to Wangari Maathai for her distinguished and selfless service to the nation and her outstanding work in conservation, to President Mwai Kibaki in 2004, and to Royal Media Services Chairperson Dr. SK Macharia in 2014 for his philanthropy and charitable work.

Others awarded honorary degrees by the institution include former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Dr. Julius Gikonyo, and Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi.

"We have different categories. We have Graduate Engineers, we have Professional Engineers, we have Consulting Engineers, we have accredited checkers. These are the people when they enter into the register from the category of professionals, they now rightfully earn the initials ENG before their name. Anyone outside that is a joke gone too far," Kiteme added.

In 2023, the Commission for University Education flagged 13 Christian institutions, among them Northwestern Christian University, warning the public that any institution purporting to offer university education and not appearing in the list of the Commission is an illegal entity.

The institution on its website establishes itself as theologically accredited by The International Association for Christian Education Accountability and has, besides Sudi, awarded other lawmakers, among them Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, an Honorary Degree in Leadership and Governance during its graduation ceremony in Eldoret City, with former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri as the Chief Guest of Honor.

Sirisia MP John Waluke was also among those awarded an Honorary Degree in Public Administration and Political Science.