Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) has told the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) that Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa was not their student.
In a letter dated September 14, JKUAT Registrar of Academic Affairs Dr
Aggrey Wanyama said the university did not hold a graduation ceremony in May
2008, the date Cofek had asked about.
“His name doesn’t appear on our alumni records, and JKUAT did not have a graduation in May 2008,’” Wanyama said.
The university also said the issue was not new and that its findings had previously been communicated to two other government agencies.
Cofek had gone to court in July seeking to verify if the MP was a student at the university.
The MP had not publicly responded to the latest JKUAT letter by the time of publication.
Separately, the government has begun efforts to integrate systems used to authenticate academic qualifications as it moves to strengthen certificate verification.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei led a consultative meeting bringing together the Public Service Commission (PSC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on integrating and streamlining systems used to authenticate academic papers, particularly during the recruitment and appointment of public servants.
PSC chairperson Francis Meja said institutions responsible for examinations, education and public service recruitment needed to work together in verifying credentials.
“The integration and streamlining of the authentication and verification of academic credentials is critical in safeguarding the integrity of recruitment processes,” Meja said.
He said the move would help promote professionalism, competence and merit within the Public Service and the wider workforce.
