DCI raids Mombasa graduation over fake degrees, six Menorah Training Institute officials arrested
DCI officers halted a graduation at Victory International Church in Changamwe, Mombasa, arresting six Menorah Training Institute officials over alleged unaccredited degree awards, leaving dozens of graduands stranded.
A graduation ceremony in Changamwe, Mombasa County, left dozens of hopeful graduates stranded after detectives shut down the event over claims that the institution behind it was not accredited to award degrees.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crime Unit, working alongside officials from the Commission for University Education (CUE), intervened on Saturday after receiving intelligence that an unauthorised graduation was taking place at Victory International Church in Changamwe.
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By the time the officers arrived, the ceremony was already underway. Graduands had gathered in academic regalia as organisers prepared to issue certificates, before detectives ordered an immediate halt to proceedings.
Investigators said the event had been organised by Menorah Training Institute in partnership with Dominion Mission Theological University Global, an institution reportedly based in Ghana.
No accreditation documents
According to the DCI, the organisers, directors and officials were asked to present the mandatory accreditation documents from CUE but failed to do so, raising questions over the legality of the qualifications being awarded.
Preliminary investigations established that Menorah Training Institute is registered with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and is authorised to offer courses only up to diploma level.
However, a review of the graduation list revealed serious irregularities. Detectives said they found that five individuals were listed to graduate with master’s degrees, while another 17 were set to receive degree certificates – qualifications the institution is neither licensed nor legally authorised to confer under Kenyan law.
“Following the discovery, six officials linked to the ceremony were arrested. Those taken into custody include the institution’s president, Daniel Dela, board members John Kibet, Philomena Milano and Ann Ogola Owiti, as well as Jason Oduor and Michael Ochieng,” the DCI said in a statement.
The suspects are currently being held as detectives process the case ahead of their arraignment in court.
Similar raid
The latest operation comes months after a similar crackdown in February 2025, when DCI and CUE officials raided a graduation ceremony at Northwestern Christian University in Mombasa over a lack of accreditation. During that operation, authorities cancelled more than 100 degree certificates and arrested university officials.
As investigations into the Changamwe incident continue, the DCI and CUE have urged Kenyans to exercise caution and verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling.
“As investigations continue, Kenyans are urged to remain vigilant and verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling, because when it comes to education, shortcuts often lead to dead ends,” the DCI said.
The agency has also urged members of the public to report suspected academic fraud through its anonymous channels under the #FichuaKwaDCI initiative.
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