Foreigners Arrested for Issuing PhD Certificates After Three Days of Study Through a Fake University in Mombasa

Mombasa, Kenya – In a striking crackdown on educational fraud, law enforcement officers from Bamburi Police Station arrested four individuals, including two foreign nationals, for operating a sham university out of the White Sands Hotel in Mombasa County. The operation was brought to a halt during what was supposed to be a degree award ceremony, where participants were set to receive Masters and PhD qualifications after a mere three days of training.

The suspects, identified as Dayis Lawrence Bennett, an American citizen, Farah Akab, a Pakistani national, and Kenyans Ekra Ndung’u and Josephine Ndune, were caught in the act of issuing these spurious degrees. Among the fraudulent awards were three Master of Business Administration degrees in Leadership and Management, and two honorary PhDs in Leadership.

The group was presented before the Shanzu Law Courts, where they faced charges under the Universities Act, specifically for Conferring Degrees Without Accreditation of Foreign Universities, as outlined in Section 28(2) read with Section 5. Despite the gravity of the charges, all four pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate at the Shanzu Law Courts granted them bail, setting it at Ksh 400,000 with a similar surety, or a cash bail of Ksh 300,000. As part of their bail conditions, the passports of the foreign nationals were surrendered to the court. The case is scheduled for mention on February 18, 2025, as investigations continue.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that they will not relent in their efforts to apprehend those who engage in such fraudulent activities. “We are committed to ensuring that individuals who attempt to shortcut the rigorous process of earning legitimate qualifications are brought to justice,” stated a DCI spokesperson.

This incident shines a spotlight on the ongoing issue of fake academic credentials in Kenya, challenging the integrity of educational achievements and the trust in the system. The DCI’s action serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to maintain the credibility of academic institutions and the qualifications they confer.