Murang'a University and CUE sued over Didmus' academic papers

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa’s academic papers have sparked a court row, with Murang’a University being accused of allegedly failing to scrutinise his past before issuing him with a PhD.

The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has used the university and the Commission for University Education, arguing that the claim of Barasa being conferred a Doctor of Public Administration degree does not tally with his publicly known past.

“A letter of completion of studies dated 16th June 2026 states that the Interested Party has fulfilled the requirements for the award of a Doctor of Public Administration degree and awaits formal conferment at the next graduation ceremony. The said letter is not, on its face, a formal Senate resolution conferring the degree and confirms that the academic process remains incomplete pending formal conferment,” claimed Cofek.

The lobby said it had written to CUE, seeking answers on how the university admitted the MP for a postgraduate programme and certification process of the course. However, the court heard that there was no answer forthcoming.

Cofek said the case was not about authenticating Barasa’s academic papers but puts to question whether Murang’a University and CUE carried out their constitutional duties. “Formal conferment before determination of the Petition would materially alter the subject matter of the proceedings and may render the intended relief substantially nugatory. Formal conferment before determination of the Petition would materially alter the subject matter of the proceedings and may render the intended relief substantially nugatory,” argued Cofek’s Secretary General Stephen Mutoro.

In his affidavit, Mutoro said Barasa had publicly indicated that he had a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and postgraduate qualifications from the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney in Australia,

However, he said the information on his academic history, plus his professional career, does not tally with the decision to award him a PhD.

He asserted that both the university and the higher education institutions regulator ought to have scrutinised the MP’s documents for verification before admission or allowing him in class.

According to Mutoro, the first question about Barasa’s academic history is his claim that he served at the Kenya Defence Forces. He said there are doubts whether he was schooling while also being at the KDF.