Questions as 118 Graduate with Ph.D. from JKUAT

Kenyans on social media have raised questions over the high number of graduands who were conferred with doctorate degrees in the recent Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) graduation.

A total of 118 graduands were awarded Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree during the institution’s graduation ceremony on Friday, June 21st. 

Led by US-based Kenyan lawyer and scholar Prof. Makau Mutua, online users questioned the institution's capacity to supervise 118 Ph.D. students.

"How credible are the 118 PhDs awarded by JKUAT? Either they are fake or academic standards there are near zero. Let’s end this academic fraud," said Mutua in a tweet.

@OnyangoOlang2 noted: “Does @jkuat have the human resource capacity to have supervised these 118 candidates- Unless the biting lecturers’ shortage in our universities does not apply to @JKUAT."

@Purity_Bisieri tweeted: "118 PhDs awarded by JKUAT alone today...ACADEMIC FRAUD is on the rise."

@OnyangoOlang2 added:"... knowing the low number of professors in our universities who could be available to oversee that kind number of Ph.D. candidates."

@Moha001_Onyango said: "It took my late uncle, PROF CHARLES GERROH, five good years defending his Ph.D. thesis at MASENO UNIVERSITY. And here, we are talking about a man who was the best student in Maseno School and got A FIRST CLASS HONOURS from UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA... 118 PhDs is a JOKE!!"

Lawyer @DonaldBKipkorir tweeted: "JKUAT, as its name says, is University of Agriculture & Technology. But to graduate 118 PhDs when we don’t know from it of any innovation in both fields is a monumental scandal & should be closed. JKUAT should publish the titles of all the PhDs theses & names of the Supervisors."