Calls for Stricter Oversight on Awarding of Honorary Degrees in Kenya
He also urged the youth to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship as opposed to only seeking government employment.
MKU Founder and Board Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu .Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth sang
The government has been urged to introduce stricter regulations on the conferment of honorary degrees so as to protect the credibility and integrity of Kenya’s higher education sector.
The call came Wednesday during Mount Kenya University’s 28th graduation ceremony in Thika, where MKU Founder and Board Chairman Prof Simon Gicharu cautioned that uncontrolled issuance of honorary degrees could erode public trust in universities. He noted that such awards are sometimes perceived to be political gestures rather than recognitions of genuine academic merit.
“Degrees are earned through hard work in class,” Prof. Gicharu told over 9,000 graduands while emphasizing the need for national standards to ensure transparency, fairness, and academic dignity in awarding honorary titles.
His sentiments were echoed by South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, whose wife was among the graduates. Osoro asserted that the value of Kenyan qualifications needs to be protected jealously, adding that degrees earned through personal effort and competition give the graduate a chance to compete on a global stage. He also urged the youth to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship as opposed to only seeking government employment.
The graduation ceremony, which was held under the theme “From Knowledge to Nation-Building: Advancing Responsible Leadership and Governance,” attracted senior government officials, education leaders, and international partners.
Chief Guest Dr. Aurelia Rono, the Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, noted that securing academic integrity was vital for good governance, efficient policy-making, and national development. She commended MKU for translating knowledge into practical solutions and cited innovations achieved by students, such as EcoBlue and Nanaheal Enterprises, which have gained international recognition.
University Council Chairman Dr. Vincent Gaitho said that MKU was increasingly playing a strategic role in the molding of ethical leadership and conducting research that informs national policy, adding that the university’s 130,000 alumni influence sectors including business, technology, governance, and media.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, noted efforts at improving the curriculum, innovation hubs, and industry-relevant training, citing as a recent example the introduction of the UBTECH Walker E-Educational Humanoid Robot to enhance AI learning and interdisciplinary research.
Prof. Gicharu also announced new partnerships, such as the partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, and investments in dentistry, hospitality, and maritime training geared toward broadening graduates’ opportunities. The occasion also celebrated some of the outstanding alumni who included Kenya’s Ambassador to Israel Samuel Thuita and Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu, as well as recognized achievements by notable graduands across various fields.
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