Engineers Board Orders Removal of 'Eng' Title from MP Sudi's Honorary Degree

The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has initiated the process for the recall of an honorary degree certificate awarded to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi by Northwestern Christian University Kenya.

Following a surge of public complaints regarding Sudi's representation of the engineering title "Eng." on the certificate, EBK Chief Executive Officer Margaret Ogai announced decisive action to address the issue. The board has communicated with both the awarding university and relevant government authorities, instructing them to withdraw the honorary degree certificate, eliminate the title "Eng." from the document, and issue a revised version.

Ogai states that the title "Eng." is legally protected under the Engineers Act, 2011, emphasizing that its unauthorized use is subject to legal penalties. She clarifies that only registered professionals and consulting engineers are permitted to use this title. According to Ogai, the inclusion of the title "Eng." in Sudi's honorary certificate constitutes a violation of the Engineers Act, specifically Sections 26(3) and 47(2), which explicitly prohibit unregistered individuals from using professional engineering titles and stipulate penalties for such breaches.

She underscores that the misapplication of this title jeopardizes the integrity of the engineering profession. Sudi received the honorary degree during a graduation ceremony held on December 21, marking the institution's 17th event of its kind. The awarding sparked considerable backlash from the engineering community, with Shammah Kiteme, President of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, openly criticizing Sudi on social media.

Kiteme stated, “Please note that the title 'Eng.' is protected by law under the Engineers Act, 2011. It takes at least eight years of hard work to earn it. Sudi, please stop this disrespectful use of a title you haven’t earned.”

Oscar Sudi's honorary degree was conferred in the fields of Leadership, Administration, and Management. Notably, the same ceremony also saw Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and Sirisia MP John Waluke receiving honorary degrees in Leadership and Governance and Public Administration and Political Science, respectively.

The event drew additional scrutiny due to the presence of former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri as the chief guest, a role typically reserved for distinguished academicians or senior officials from the Ministry of Education. Honorary degrees are generally awarded by universities as a form of recognition for exceptional societal contributions or notable achievements in various fields. However, such degrees do not confer professional titles or qualifications.