Didmus Barasa in the spot over Degree profile as JKUAT disowns him

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa graduated with a PhD in Public Administration from Murang’a University of Technology. [Courtesy]

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa is yet again in the eye of a storm but this time, it is his academic credentials that are in question.

A master at courting controversy, the lawmaker now finds himself in the court of public opinion and deep in the throes of a credibility question, thanks to a damning revelation by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

The latest development comes against the backdrop of a separate controversy surrounding Barasa’s academic credentials following his completion of a PhD in Public Administration at Murang’a University of Technology.

The MP announced in June that he had completed his doctoral studies and would graduate with a PhD, while defending his academic record amid questions about his qualifications.

“I heard someone say that I didn’t go to school. That I stole someone’s certificate. I’m the most learned MP in Bungoma County. I have two undergraduate degrees and two Masters. I completed my PhD and I will graduate with a doctorate next month,” Barasa said.

 “Today I graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Administration. It has been a long journey of late nights, sacrifice, resilience and grace. I want to sincerely thank my family for standing with me through this process. To my wife - thank you for your understanding, your patience, and for holding the home together during those long 2 a.m. nights of study. Your support meant a lot. To everyone who encouraged me, prayed for me, and pushed me to keep going - I do not take it for granted. This Doctorate is a milestone, not the finish line. The work continues,” he posted about two weeks ago.

On Thursday, JKUAT told the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) that the MP was not a student at the university and that it did not award him a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in May 2008.

In the letter dated September 14, 2026, the Registrar of Academic Affairs Aggrey Wanyama also states that Barasa’s name does not appear anywhere on their records. Further, the university disputed the authenticity of the certificate, stating that it did not hold any graduation ceremony in May 2008.

Wanyama subsequently concluded that the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering certificate he presented was “NOT GENUINE.”

“His name doesn’t appear on 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,” states Wanyama.

The Registrar also highlights that the credibility of his degree and academic qualifications had previously been probed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), with an aim of establishing the legitimacy of the academic qualifications.

Questions now surround the lack of action on the matter despite university flagging the academic degree.

These are questions that EACC and EBK now face as the university’s latest verification puts a qualification that has appeared in official records under a new spotlight.

“This matter has previously been investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and the same information was communicated to both organizations,” the registrar stated.

The university said it communicated the findings to EACC and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), for consideration and any necessary action.

The development now resuscitates Barasa’s controversies surrounding his academic qualifications and the credentials attained thereafter.  The existence of two different profiles with profiles with conflicting information on his educational background on the National Assembly’s website further murkies the waters and casts doubt over information’s authenticity.

A casual perusal of the National Assembly’s website lists the lawmaker as a graduate from prestigious universities within the country and even abroad, including the University of Sydney Australia, University of Queensland, Australia, and JKUAT.

It states that at JKUAT, the MP studied and attained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Electronic Engineering after graduating with a 2nd class Honors Upper Division distinction.

A casual perusal of the National Assembly’s website lists the lawmaker as a graduate from prestigious universities and having obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from JKUAT between 2001 and 2005, and a Master of Occupational, Health, Security and Safety Science from The University of Queensland, Australia between 2008 and 2009.

However, another updated profile lists him as having attained a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Kenya Power and Lighting Training School between 2001 and 2004, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Mount Kenya University between 2017 and 2021.

It also shows that the MP studied for a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management at the same university between 2021 and 2022.

Questions have now abounded following the revelation by JKUAT. The institution was compelled to issue a response after COFEK went to court challenging the lawmaker’s academic credentials and the processes leading to the award of his latest academic qualifications.

The case also stemmed from a controversy that erupted in June after Barasa declared that he had completed his doctoral studies at the public university.

In a social media post, the legislator announced that his “doctorate journey” at Murang’a University of Technology was complete and attached a letter from the institution’s Directorate of Postgraduate Studies confirming that he had fulfilled the requirements for the award of a Doctorate in Public Administration.

His post instantly drew criticism online and triggered a public debate, leading to COFEK writing to the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), calling for investigations into Barasa’s academic credentials.

The consumer lobby argued that concerns surrounding the MP’s educational background warranted independent verification by regulators and investigators to establish the credibility of the qualifications in question.

But Barasa has never shied away from defending his accolades.  On Friday, August 6, 2021, the MP said that he graduated from Mt Kenya University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration.

In a subsequent interview on TV47, the MP said that he was able to balance his work and education because his course was similar to his legislative roles. Further, Barasa disclosed that he was a holder of two undergraduate degrees and a master's.

“I am very happy. Learning is an endless journey...I go through a lot of policy and proposals and the university had a friendly program," Barasa stated.

He said that he had enrolled for yet another master’s degree and was working towards attaining a diploma in project management.

"My education is not to help me secure employment but just to expand my knowledge and help me in my legislative roles," Barasa said.

“I think I don’t have to respond to things that don’t have a basis. Number one, many of these things have been coming up every time we get close to an election. When this character called (Stephen) Mutoro, when Murang'a University issued notice to confer me with a PhD in Public Administration, the guy went to court, purporting to sue. To compel the university to stop awarding me with the degree. He was claiming in his affidavit papers I might have used a fake Engineering degree which (it) was not part of my requirements. The character is on a fishing expedition,” Barasa said when The Standard reached for a response.

Asked whether he ever studied at JKUAT, he skirted around the issue asking, “Went to JKUAT to do what? What reasons does somebody write to JKUAT. He challenged my PhD, so I told him I went to JKUAT to do what? Every time we are approaching an election this comes up from people who are not able to compete with me based on track records and plans,” he said.

Asked what plans he was making following the fake degree assertions, he said: “I am focused on working for the people of Kimilili, first as a Member of Parliament for Kimilili, and in readiness or in preparation to work for the people of Bungoma as their governor.”

When contacted for a response by The Standard, Barasa said: “I think I don’t have to respond to things that don’t have a base. Number one, many of these things have been coming up every time we get close to an election. When this character called (Stephen) Mutoro, when Muranga University issued notice to confer me with a PhD in Public Administration, the guy went to court purporting to sue. To compel the university to stop awarding me with the degree. He was claiming in his affidavit papers I might have used a fake Engineering degree which (it) was not part of my requirements. The character is on a fishing expedition.”

Asked whether he ever studied at JKUAT, he skirted around the issue asking “Went to JKUAT to do what? What reasons does somebody write to JKUAT. He challenged my PhD, so I told him I went to JKUAT to do what? Everytime we are approaching an election this comes up from people who are not able to compete with me based on track records and plans,” he said.

Asked what plans he was making following the fake degree assertions, he said: “I am focused on working for the people of Kimilili, first as a Member of Parliament for Kimilili, and in readiness or in preparation to work for the people of Bungoma as their governor.”

- Additional reporting by Juliet Omelo