Makau Mutua, senior adviser to President William Ruto, has asked the Ministry of Education to stop individuals with honorary doctorate degrees from using the title Dr.
In his statement on October 1, Mutua stated that this will separate those who earned their doctorates through studies from those awarded titles ceremonially.
Mutua argued that Kenyans should emulate the Ethiopian government since it recently introduced the ban.
He added that Ethiopia also introduced strict rules on how universities can issue honorary degrees.
“In July 2025, Ethiopia banned those with honorary doctorates from using the title “Dr.” It restricted how universities can confer honorary degrees. "
"This protects academic integrity and distinguishes between earned and ceremonial titles. Kenya must follow suit,” Makau Mutua said.
Also Read: Ruto's PhD Course Listed for Scrapping by University of Nairobi
An honorary doctorate is an academic degree awarded by a university in recognition of outstanding contributions to society or a specific field.
In academia, individuals get to earn a doctorate by undertaking study and research, as well as completing a coursework.
How Institutions Award Individuals
Before an institution awards an individual an honorary doctorate, there are processes that are followed.
The process begins when a faculty member, board member or alumnus nominates someone they think deserves the award.
After the nomination process, a vetting committee reviews each candidate's achievements.
If the committee approves the nomination, the institution's governing body will give final approval.
In the final stage, the degree will be formally awarded to individuals at a ceremony, usually during graduation.
