By DAMARIS AWUOR: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has distanced itself from Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa, confirming that the lawmaker was never enrolled at the institution and was never awarded a degree in engineering.

Responding to an inquiry by the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), JKUAT Academic Registrar Aggrey Wanyama stated that a thorough check of the university’s institutional database yielded no record of the MP ever pursuing or completing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The university also cast doubt on the legitimacy of the degree certificate held by Barasa, pointing out a major timeline anomaly.

According to JKUAT, the institution did not host any graduation ceremony in May 2008, the month and year indicated on the document presented by the MP.

“His name does not appear on our alumni records, and JKUAT did not hold a graduation in May 2008. The certificate for the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme is therefore not genuine,” Dr Wanyama wrote in an official response dated September 14, 2026.

The institution further noted that this is not the first time the MP’s credentials have come under scrutiny.

JKUAT confirmed that it had previously rendered the same verdict to anti-graft and engineering regulators during prior investigations into Barasa’s academic background.

“This matter was previously investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and the exact same position was formally communicated to both bodies for appropriate action,” Dr Wanyama added.

The revelation leaves the Kimilili legislator facing fresh legal and integrity questions regarding his academic credentials and eligibility for office.