My degree is from Mt Kenya University, not JKUAT; Didmus Barasa
My degree is from Mt Kenya University, not JKUAT; Didmus Barasa
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has dismissed allegations that he obtained an undergraduate degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), attributing the claims to political rivalry.
Barasa denied reports that he holds an engineering degree from JKUAT, saying his undergraduate and master’s degrees are from Mount Kenya University.
“I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Kenya University, master’s degree from Mount Kenya University and Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from Murang’a University,” he told KTN on Thursday.
His remarks followed communication from JKUAT stating that he was never a student at the university.
In a letter dated September 14 and addressed to the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek), JKUAT said Barasa’s name does not appear in its alumni records.
Cofek had moved to court seeking to establish whether an engineering degree bearing Barasa’s name was genuine.
JKUAT Registrar of Academic Affairs Dr Aggrey Wanyama told Cofek Secretary General Stephen Mutoro that the university did not hold a graduation ceremony in May 2008, the period indicated on the disputed certificate.
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“We have established that Hon Didmus Wekesa Barasa was not a student at JKUAT. His name does not appear in our alumni records and JKUAT did not have a graduation in May 2008. His certificate for Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme is therefore not genuine,” Wanyama said.
He said the university had previously communicated the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).
Barasa, however, attributed the controversy to political rivalry, questioning Mutoro’s motives for pursuing the matter.
“So how can he [Mutoro] purport now to be doing background checks, writing to universities?”
Mutoro, in a statement on X, said Barasa had sworn an affidavit to demonstrate that his academic record, including the disputed qualification, was clean.
“His own exhibits raise questions,” Mutoro said.
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Didmus Barasa was not a JKUAT student, did not earn degree in 2008
