The Commission for University Education (CUE) has blacklisted 15 institutions in Kenya for operating illegally and issuing unrecognized degrees. The crackdown aims to protect students from enrolling in unaccredited programmes of study that offer no academic or professional value.

According to CUE, the affected institutions have been offering courses without proper accreditation, misleading students and employers about the legitimacy of their academic qualifications. The commission has warned the public against seeking admission to these institutions, as their degrees will not be recognized in Kenya or internationally.

"For the avoidance of doubt, any institution operating as a university or degree awarding and which does not appear on the commission's list of approved institutions is illegal and their degree qualifications will not be recognised in Kenya," the authority noted in its update to the public.

The blacklisted universities include:

1. Eldoret Bible College
2. Al-Munawarah College (Mombasa)
3. Grace Life Bible College (Vihiga)
4. Africa Theological Seminary (Kitale)
5. Regions Beyond Ministry Bible College (Thika)
6. Baraton College (Kapsabet)
7. The Africa Talent University (Kisumu)
8. Breakthrough Bible College (Nairobi)
9. Theophillus Theological College (Riruta)
10. Northwestern Christian University
11. Logos University (Kakamega)
12. Word of Faith Bible College (Vihiga)
13. Harvest Land University (Kisumu)
14. Kenya Anglican University-Kanyambura (Embu)
15. East African University Bradegate International University (Nyeri)

CUE has urged prospective students to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling. The commission emphasized that only universities accredited by the government have the legal mandate to award degrees.

This move follows growing concerns over the rise of unlicensed institutions offering dubious qualifications, which has led to employers rejecting degrees from questionable institutions.

Oscar Sudi honorary degree

Late last year, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi sparked controversy after sharing photos of himself and Sirisia MP John Walukhe celebrating their receipt of honorary degrees from one of the universities recently blacklisted by the CUE.

"I am deeply honoured to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Leadership, Administration, and Management from Northwestern Christian University at The Eldoret National Polytechnic. This recognition underscores the boundless nature of education—it truly has no limits," Sudi stated at the time.

However, on February 28, this year, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested two individuals for running illegal institutions that awarded degrees without accreditation.

"The suspects, Moses Masiga, Chancellor of Northwestern 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 regarding unaccredited institutions offering degrees," the DCI announced on X.

Public universities

CUE list shows that there are 35 public universities, five public university constituent colleges and 28 private chartered universities in the country. At the same time, there are three specialised degree awarding universities (public) including the National Defence College, Open University of Kenya and the National Intelligence and Research University.

Additionally, there are six institutions operating with letters of interim authority in the country. These are: GRESTA University, Riara University, Pioneer International University, International Leadership University, AMREF International University and Uzima University.

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