What was meant to be a moment of triumph, caps tossed skyward and futures celebrated, came to an abrupt and dramatic halt yesterday when detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) shut down an illegal graduation ceremony in Changamwe, Mombasa County.
Detectives from the DCI Headquarters’ Serious Crime Unit (SCU), in conjunction with the Commission for University Education (CUE), stormed Victory International Church after receiving intelligence that an institution accredited only to offer diploma courses was attempting to award degrees and master’s qualifications.
By the time the hawk-eyed officers arrived, the ceremony was underway, with graduants seated in the front rows, dressed in academic regalia, and certificates ready for handover.
The proceedings were unceremoniously halted as authorities demanded proof of legitimacy.
According to the DCI, organisers and officials from Menorah Training Institute, alongside representatives of Dominion Mission Theological University Global (based in Ghana), failed to produce the required accreditation documents from the CUE.
Preliminary investigations revealed that while Menorah Training Institute is registered with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), its mandate is strictly limited to courses up to diploma level.
However, the graduation list painted a far more troubling picture: five individuals were scheduled to receive master’s degrees, while 17 others were set to be awarded bachelor’s degrees, qualifications the institution has no authority or license to confer.
In a statement, the DCI announced that several officials were arrested, including Daniel Dela (President), John Kibet, Philomena Milano, Ann Ogola Owiti (board members), Jason Oduor, and Michael Ochieng.
They are currently being held in police custody pending further investigations and arraignment in court.
Authorities are urging Kenyans to exercise caution by verifying the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling, warning that shortcuts in education often lead to dead ends.
