The high number of graduands who were conferred with doctorate degrees at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has raised concerns online.
At least 118 graduands were awarded PhDs during the institution’s graduation ceremony on Friday, June 21.
The Friday ceremony which was presided over by the recently appointed Chancellor, Joseph Mathu Ndung’u, brought together 3,345 graduands from different disciplines.
Kenyans are now questioning the credibility of the 118 PhDs awarded by JKUAT in one day being the highest number in the country.
With some suggesting that PHDs might have been acquired through fraud means, others questioned the university’s capability of deploying enough Professors to supervise the 118 Research proposals.
Lawyer Makau Mutua the law scholar who once wanted to become Kenya’s chief justice said in a Twitter post,
“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.”
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 https://t.co/NuifqU8JGz
— Prof Makau Mutua (@makaumutua) June 21, 2019
In support to Mutua, another Lawyer Donald Kipkorir called for the closure of the university and as well have the title of all the PHD titles and names published.
“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 alll the PhDs theses & names of the Supervisors”, said in a Twitter post.
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 alll the PhDs theses & names of the Supervisors.
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) June 22, 2019
An audit report by the Commission for University Education (CUE) released in March 2019 indicated less than 20% of the students who enrolled for PhDs managed to graduate between the 2012 and 2016 period.
Another report by the British Council and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) showed that from 2011 to 2015, University of Nairobi produced only 117 PhDs, with unavailable data in two academic years.At the same time, Moi University churned out 196 doctorates, Kenyatta University 349, Egerton 84, JKUAT 260, Maseno 81, Pwani three, Catholic University of Eastern Africa 80 and Mount Kenya 17.
These figures were associated with the lack of enough PhD holders to teach students in universities. The question of how JKUAT managed to get over such numbers is a matter of concern with a good number of Kenyans are now calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof. George Magoha to intervene in the situation.
Here are some of the reactions;
118 PhDs from one institution in the same year? How many professors did JKUAT deploy to supervise and graduate 118 PhDs in this express marathon? Do they have this capacity? For how long? Where are the published works and innovative outputs from this crowd? pic.twitter.com/BGtzlh2tCH
— Sakwa Buliba (@SakwaBuliba) June 22, 2019
Look at this dubious PhDs thesis from JKUAT.
The university model of education is broken and it needs to die.
They are awarding a doctoral thesis on the benefits of nutrition? FOH 🚮🚮 pic.twitter.com/bLZk4t5dhS
— Michael Mburu (@MichaelMburu_) June 22, 2019
I have known JKUAT as university that can't hawk academic papers. Bt nowadays their management is not having a national representation.Members of one community hav dominated and fr obvious reasons incompetence and corruption is sprouting from there.The PhDS are questionable!
— Danvas Nyabasa (@DanvasNyabasa) June 22, 2019
Awarding 118 PhDs isn't the problem, quality of those PhDs is the problem. Those Jkuat PhDs students are also just tarmacking on this streets looking for employment. 🙆
— M.A.A (@itsAlumasi) June 22, 2019
In Kenya when you plant sukuma wiki in a gunia on your balcony you are said to be an INNOVATOR who has INNOVATED something unique. Its why we have no problem when JKUAT a University that's not known for any groundbreaking work (other than tissue culture bananas) awards 118 PhDs.
— Anonymous Function (@bkairu5) June 22, 2019
JKUAT PhDs are inferior, as a PhD candidate in UoN, I am confident while saying that. Reason, after I finished my masters, I was helping #JKUAT PhD student develop her thesis.
— Hussein Muslim (@Hus_Loxodonta) June 22, 2019
I have known JKUAT as university that can't hawk academic papers. Bt nowadays their management is not having a national representation.Members of one community hav dominated and fr obvious reasons incompetence and corruption is sprouting from there.The PhDS are questionable!
— Danvas Nyabasa (@DanvasNyabasa) June 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/themtkenyatimes/status/1142285953639309312
JKUAT produces plagiarized PhDs. Out of the 118, only 10 are genuinely earned. pic.twitter.com/A6wFDok7FC
— Pal🅜 WiⓃ🅔 T🅐 PPⒺ R 🇰🇪 (@TheRealOyugi) June 21, 2019