The Commission for University Education (CUE) has flagged 15 institutions for offering degree and postgraduate programmes without accreditation, warning students and parents against enrolling in them.
The notice, issued on Tuesday, March 11, in the government publication MyGov, states that these institutions are operating illegally and that their degrees will not be recognised in Kenya.
According to the commission, the flagged universities and colleges are operating without a grant of authority, meaning they lack approval to offer degree programmes or collaborate with accredited institutions.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and CUE officials raided Northwestern Christian University’s graduation ceremony in Mombasa, citing the institution’s lack of accreditation.
The 15 institutions named in the notice are:
- Grace Life Bible College – Vihiga
- Africa Theological Seminary – Kitale
- Regions Beyond Ministry Bible College – Thika
- Baraton College – Kapsabet
- The Africa Talent University – Kisumu
- Breakthrough Bible College – Nairobi
- Theophilus Theological College – Kiambu
- Northwestern Christian University – Kakamega
- Logos University – Kakamega
- Harvest Land University – Kisumu
- Word of Faith Bible College – Vihiga
- Kenya Anglican University-Kanyuambora – Embu
- The East African University Bradgate International University – Nyeri
- Eldoret Bible College – Uasin Gishu
- Al-Munawwarah College – Mombasa
The CUE warned that students enrolled in these institutions risk having their qualifications rejected by both employers and other academic institutions. “Any institution operating as a university or degree-awarding body that does not appear on the Commission’s list of approved institutions is illegal, and their degree qualifications will not be recognised in Kenya,” the notice stated.
This revelation comes amid growing concerns over unregulated institutions offering substandard education, leading to a surge in cases where graduates struggle to secure employment due to unrecognised qualifications.
In response to these concerns, the CUE has also published a list of accredited universities, urging students and parents to verify an institution’s status before enrolment. Kenya’s top public universities, including the University of Nairobi, Moi University, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), remain fully accredited.
Among private universities, institutions such as Daystar University, Strathmore University, Mount Kenya University, and the United States International University (USIU-Africa) have been cleared as recognised institutions.
The CUE has advised students and employers to consult its official website for the most up-to-date information on accredited universities. The commission also warned that any collaboration with unapproved institutions could result in legal action.
