Two individuals have been arrested in Nyali, Mombasa County, for operating illegal institutions offering degrees without accreditation.
The suspects, Moses Masiga, the Chancellor of North Western Christian University College linked to Power International Ministries University Inc. and his Vice Chancellor Jackson Khayamba, were caught red-handed following a complaint from the Commission for University Education (CUE) regarding illegal institutions offering degrees without accreditation.
“In a swift response, a team of detectives proceeded to Wild Waters Nyali. There, they stumbled upon a sham graduation ceremony in full swing, complete with unsuspecting “graduates” about to receive their bogus certificates,” the DCI reports.
The detectives promptly declared the scene a crime scene and brought the exercise to an abrupt halt. At the scene, detectives recovered what they say is counterfeit certificates, including 7 honorary doctorate degrees, 7 academic doctorate degrees, 20 master’s degrees, 65 bachelor’s degrees, 14 diplomas and 5 certificates that were about to be awarded.
The arrested suspects are currently in custody, undergoing processing, and will be charged with the offence of offering degrees without accreditation from a foreign university, in violation of Section 28 of the University Act.
The over 100 hopeful graduates were also arrested and taken to Nyali Police Station to record statements.
Commission for University Education (CUE) chairperson Chacha Nyaigotti said that Northwestern Christian University is not registered and has no authority to issue certificates in the country.
In December 2024, the Commission launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the award of honorary degrees by the same institution to Members of Parliament (MPs) Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), and John Waluke (Sirisia), which sparked an uproar from both Kenyans and professional bodies.
