A dramatic police raid at Wild Waters Nyali on Friday halted an elaborate graduation ceremony, exposing a fraudulent scheme in which unsuspecting individuals were set to receive fake degrees from an unaccredited institution.
Detectives arrested Moses Masiga, the Chancellor of North Western Christian University College, and his Vice Chancellor, Jackson Khayamba, over their role in offering illegal degrees without accreditation. The two were apprehended following a complaint from the Commission for University Education (CUE), which flagged the institution’s activities as unlawful.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the operation unfolded just as the “graduates” were about to receive their counterfeit certificates. Officers swiftly declared the event a crime scene, seizing fraudulent documents that included seven honorary doctorate degrees, seven academic doctorate degrees, 20 master’s degrees, 65 bachelor’s degrees, 14 diplomas, and five certificates.
“The event was promptly declared a crime scene and brought to an abrupt halt,” the DCI said in a statement, emphasizing the need for vigilance against such scams.
The incident highlights the growing menace of fake degree mills in Kenya, preying on individuals seeking academic credentials for career advancement. With many institutions of higher learning requiring rigorous academic processes, some fall victim to dubious schemes promising quick and affordable degrees.
North Western Christian University College, allegedly linked to Power International Ministries University Inc., had been operating without accreditation. The CUE has repeatedly warned the public against such institutions, reminding Kenyans to verify universities’ legitimacy before enrolling.
The suspects remain in police custody and will be charged with offering degrees without accreditation from a foreign university, in violation of Section 28 of the Universities Act. This law seeks to protect the integrity of higher education by ensuring institutions meet set academic and operational standards before issuing degrees.
The arrest of Masiga and Khayamba serves as a warning to others involved in similar schemes. Authorities are now investigating how many individuals have already benefited from the fake degrees and whether any were used to secure employment or promotions.
The raid underscores the need for stricter enforcement against academic fraud. Education stakeholders have urged the government to tighten regulations and increase public awareness to curb the proliferation of fake academic credentials.
As investigations continue, the fate of the unsuspecting “graduates” remains uncertain, with many now realizing that their academic achievements were nothing more than an illusion.
