Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday halted a graduation ceremony at Victory International Church in Changamwe, Mombasa County, after establishing that it had been organised by an unaccredited institution.
The operation was carried out by officers from the DCI Headquarters’ Serious Crime Unit, working in collaboration with the Commission for University Education (CUE), following intelligence reports that an illegal graduation was underway.
By the time the officers arrived at the venue, the ceremony had already begun, with graduands and organisers proceeding as if it were a legitimate academic event.
According to investigators, the ceremony had been organised by Menorah Training Institute in partnership with Dominion Mission Theological University Global, an institution based in Ghana.
However, when questioned, the organisers and officials failed to produce valid accreditation documents from CUE, raising immediate concern over the legality of the qualifications being awarded.
Preliminary investigations established that Menorah Training Institute is registered with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), but is only licensed to offer courses up to diploma level.
Despite this limitation, officers discovered that the graduation list included candidates set to receive qualifications far beyond the institution’s authorised scope.
Investigators found that five individuals were listed as graduating with master’s degrees, while a further 17 were scheduled to receive degree certificates.
The DCI said the institution was neither licensed nor authorised to confer degree or postgraduate qualifications, making the planned awards unlawful.
As a result of the findings, several officials linked to the institutions were arrested.
Those taken into custody include Daniel Dela, identified as the president, board members John Kibet, Philomena Milano and Ann Ogola Owiti, as well as Jason Oduor and Michael Ochieng.
The suspects are currently being held as detectives complete investigations ahead of their expected arraignment in court.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing problem of bogus institutions and fraudulent academic qualifications, particularly those targeting unsuspecting students seeking quick or affordable pathways to higher education.
Authorities have warned that such schemes not only exploit students financially but also undermine the integrity of Kenya’s education system.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the operation, including how long the institutions have been offering unauthorised programmes and whether more victims are involved.
The DCI and CUE have urged Kenyans to exercise caution and verify the accreditation status of institutions with the relevant regulators before enrolling or paying any fees.
Officials warned that shortcuts in education often lead to legal and professional consequences, leaving affected students with certificates that have no academic or legal standing.
