- COFEK has sued Murang’a University, CUE, and MP Didmus Barasa at the Milimani High Court, challenging the legitimacy of his PhD in Public Administration.
- Barasa’s announcement of completing his doctorate sparked widespread debate, with former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati among those questioning the authenticity of his academic qualifications.
- Barasa and Murang’a University insist he met all requirements for the doctoral award, while COFEK calls for independent verification by regulatory and investigative agencies.
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has filed a fresh court case against Murang’a University of Technology, the Commission for University Education (CUE) and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, challenging the legislator’s academic credentials and the process that led to the award of his latest academic qualifications.
The petition, lodged at the Milimani High Court in Nairobi, comes weeks after Barasa announced that he had successfully completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration at Murang’a University of Technology and was awaiting graduation on June 23.
On Tuesday, July 28, Justice Gregory Mutai directed that the petition and the accompanying application be served on the respondents and interested parties ahead of the next mention on October 9, when the court will issue further directions.
The case, filed as Constitutional and Human Rights Petition No. E498 of 2026, lists COFEK as the petitioner, with Murang’a University of Technology and Barasa named as the respondents.
The petition arises from a controversy that emerged in June after the MP publicly announced that he had completed his doctoral studies at the public university.
In a post on social media, Barasa declared that his “doctorate journey” at Murang’a University of Technology had come to an end and shared a letter from the university’s Directorate of Postgraduate Studies confirming that he had met the requirements for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration.
The letter indicated that Barasa had successfully completed his fieldwork and defended a thesis titled Branding Strategies by County Governments on Service Delivery among Small and Medium Enterprises in Bungoma County, Kenya.
The disclosure sparked widespread public scrutiny, with education stakeholders, political leaders and members of the public raising questions about the authenticity and progression of the MP’s academic qualifications.
The debate escalated after former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati publicly challenged the legislator’s academic credentials, fuelling broader concerns over the legitimacy of the qualifications and the university’s verification processes.
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COFEK petitioned the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the allegations surrounding Barasa’s academic credentials.
The consumer rights lobby said the questions raised over the legislator’s educational qualifications warranted independent verification by the relevant regulatory and investigative agencies to establish the authenticity of the credentials in question.
Questions Over Barasa’s Academic Background Intensify
The controversy stems from differing academic profiles that have been associated with the MP over the years.
According to Parliament’s official records, Barasa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Mount Kenya University.
However, neither Murang’a University nor the MP has acknowledged any wrongdoing regarding the qualifications.
Barasa has consistently defended his academic credentials, maintaining that he lawfully obtained all his qualifications and dismissing allegations questioning his academic background.
Murang’a University has also previously stated that the MP met all the requirements for the award of a doctoral degree after completing and defending his thesis.
By Frank Mugwe
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