This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, the Commission for University Education ordered a review of all doctorate degrees awarded by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) after discovering serious anomalies in the academic processes.
The university had awarded 118 doctorate degrees on June 21, sparking outrage due to the sheer number of graduates and the fact that most were in business and human resources programmes, which are not the institution's forte.
The Commission's investigation revealed that JKUAT had flouted supervision rules by having some professors guide more than three students, contrary to the rules. Additionally, some satellite campuses lacked professors and PhD holders to supervise students, and some learners did not have the necessary credentials to enroll in the programmes.
JKUAT's actions have blemished the reputation of the university and Kenya's higher education sector. The graduates who received the degrees are also pawns in this scandal, as they had no way of knowing if the university was adhering to the supervision rules.
It is imperative that sterner action be taken against JKUAT and that the Commission broadens its investigations to other universities and degree programmes.
