Engineers Board Cracks Down on Title Misuse in Sudi's Honorary Degree
When Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi walked across the stage at the Eldoret National Polytechnic on December 21, 2024, clutching an honorary degree in leadership, administration, and management, nobody expected the ceremony to spark a fierce backlash from the engineering community. But that’s exactly what happened after word got out that his certificate, granted by Northwestern Christian University-Kenya, included the Engineers Board of Kenya’s restricted “Eng.” professional title — a clear violation of the country’s strict rules.
By law, only those who have met all the qualifications and are officially registered can use the “Eng.” designation. So when the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) found out the honorary award used that title, the response was swift. On December 24, the EBK fired off a directive ordering the university to withdraw Sudi’s honorary doctorate immediately and strip the offending title from the certificate. EBK CEO Margaret Ogai didn’t mince words — she called the use of the title a punishable offense and accused the university of undermining the entire profession.
It didn’t take long for the academic community and the public to pile on. Some are calling not just for a correction, but for the entire honorary degree to be revoked. Their argument? Granting high-profile awards to politicians or community figures who have never trained or practiced in the field sends a dangerous message. There’s also growing unease about how universities, both private and public, may use honorary degrees for publicity without considering the qualifications attached to certain titles. More and more people are asking: Should universities be able to hand out honorary titles that are protected by law?
Spotlight on Enforcement and Academic Oversight
The EBK’s move is about more than one degree. Under Sections 26(3) and 47(2) of the Engineers Act, 2011, the “Eng.” title is reserved exclusively for licensed professionals. By giving it to anyone else, even by accident, institutions risk not just embarrassment but legal action and significant fines. Ogai and her colleagues say this isn’t the first time they’ve seen confusion around professional titles, and each time it threatens the reputation of the entire engineering sector.
So what happens next? Northwestern Christian University-Kenya has remained silent — no official statement, no hint of whether they’ll comply or fight back. Meanwhile, the whole situation is feeding a wider debate about academic integrity in Kenya. Honorary degrees aren’t new, but this controversy adds fresh urgency. Critics want universities to be more transparent and to respect clear boundaries between reputation-boosting honors and the hard-earned credentials that define professions.
For now, the EBK stands firm. They warn that more institutions may find themselves in the crosshairs if they don’t tidy up their practices. As for Sudi, there’s little indication he broke any rules himself — but the fallout illustrates just how tense things can get when prestige and legal protections collide.