DCI stops alleged bogus graduation in Changamwe, Mombasa

A team of detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters’ Serious Crime Unit (SCU), working hand in glove with officers from the Commission for University Education (CUE), Saturday brought the curtain down on a graduation ceremony organised by an unaccredited institution at Victory International Church, Changamwe, Mombasa County.

Acting on intelligence reports of an illegal graduation in progress, the officers made their way to the venue and found the ceremony already underway, caps in the air, dreams in motion, before swiftly stopping it.

When put to task, the organisers, directors and officials of Menorah Training Institute and Dominion Mission Theological University Global (based in Ghana), were unable to produce the mandatory accreditation documents from CUE, leaving their academic claims hanging by a thread, the team said.

Preliminary investigations established that Menorah Training Institute is duly registered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) to offer courses only up to diploma level, the DCI said in a statement

However, a closer look at the graduation list raised more red flags, the statement added.

For instance, five individuals were listed as graduating with master’s degrees, while 17 others were set to receive degree certificates, qualifications the institution is neither licensed nor authorised to award.

Consequently, some of the officials of the institution were arrested.

The DCI said they Daniel Dela (President), John Kibet, Philomena Milano, Ann Ogola Owiti (board members), alongside Jason Oduor and Michael Ochieng.

They were taken to custody for processing pending arraignment.

There was no immediate comment from the institution as the affected officials had been detained.
As investigations continue, Kenyans are urged to remain vigilant and verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling, because when it comes to education, shortcuts often lead to dead ends, the DCI said.