In relation to a sensational scheme at a university involving the rapid acquisition of certificates, authorities in Mombasa have arrested four people, two of whom are foreign nationals.
The suspects are thought to have run a fraudulent university close to a well-known hotel in Mombasa, providing participants with Master’s and PhD certificates after just three days of training.
Eventually, the police became aware of the operations, leading officers from Bamburi Police Station to apprehend four suspects, including an American citizen and a Pakistani national.
In a strange turn of events, the police stepped in just in time to stop a graduation ceremony from proceeding, preventing the students at the bogus university from receiving their diplomas.
In relation to a sensational scheme at a university involving the rapid acquisition of certificates, authorities in Mombasa have arrested four people, two of whom are foreign nationals.
The suspects are thought to have run a fraudulent university close to a well-known hotel in Mombasa, providing participants with Master’s and PhD certificates after just three days of training.
Eventually, the police became aware of the operations, leading officers from Bamburi Police Station to apprehend four suspects, including an American citizen and a Pakistani national.
In a strange turn of events, the police stepped in just in time to stop a graduation ceremony from proceeding, preventing the students at the bogus university from receiving their diplomas.
As per DCI, the fraudulent certifications comprised three Master of Business Administration (Leadership and Management) degrees and two PhDs in Leadership (Hon. Causa).
The suspects were charged with Conferring Degrees Without Accreditation of Foreign Universities, contrary to Section 28(2) as read with Section 5 of the Universities Act, after their arraignment at the Shanzu Law Courts.
The individuals suspected of wrongdoing have appeared in front of the Shanzu Law Courts, where they face charges of Conferring Degrees Without Accreditation from Foreign Universities, in violation of Section 28(2) as read with Section 5 of the Universities Act.
As anticipated, the suspects entered a not guilty plea and were granted a bond of Ksh400,000 with a similar surety or a cash bail of Ksh300,000. On February 18, the case will be mentioned again.
In Kenya, the problem of counterfeit academic qualifications has persisted for years, and organizations such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission are struggling with new methods created by offenders to circumvent the system.
With the DCI and EACC ramping up their campaigns against fraudulent certificates, the advent of a bogus university that hands out diplomas after three days of training presents a new obstacle for the nation’s anti-fraud organizations.
