Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has demanded KSh100 million in damages from the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) over publications questioning his academic qualifications. Through his lawyers Danstan Omari, Shadrack Wambui and Jeff Kangethe, the MP has also denied claims that he studied at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) or obtained an engineering degree from the institution.
In a demand letter dated September 21, 2026, Barasa’s lawyers accused COFEK of publishing statements they consider defamatory between September 14 and September 21. The lawyers demanded that the publications concerning Barasa be removed from social media platforms within two hours of receiving the letter. They further called for a retraction and payment of KSh100 million, warning that failure to comply would result in legal action.
Barasa Explains His Academic Background
The demand follows a wider dispute over Barasa’s academic history, including questions raised by COFEK regarding his qualifications and progression to a doctoral degree. In court documents, Barasa states that he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Mount Kenya University in 2021 and later obtained a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management, specialising in Public Policy, from the same university in 2022.
He further says he joined Murang’a University of Technology for a PhD programme in Public Administration after receiving provisional admission in January 2023.
According to his court affidavit, he completed various stages of the doctoral programme, including presentation of his concept paper, defence of his research proposal, data analysis and results presentation, academic seminars, journal paper presentations and an oral defence of his thesis.
Barasa says the university’s Directorate of Postgraduate Studies subsequently notified him in June 2026 that he had completed the programme and met the requirements for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, subject to formal conferment at the university’s graduation ceremony.
JKUAT Degree Dispute
The controversy intensified after JKUAT responded to a request from COFEK seeking verification of an engineering qualification attributed to Barasa.
In a September 14, 2026 letter, JKUAT said Barasa’s name did not appear in its student or alumni records and stated that the university did not hold a graduation ceremony in May 2008, the date associated with the disputed certificate. The institution therefore disputed the authenticity of the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering certificate attributed to him.
Barasa has rejected the claim that he obtained an engineering qualification from JKUAT, maintaining that his undergraduate and master’s qualifications are from Mount Kenya University and his PhD is from Murang’a University of Technology.
COFEK Court Challenge
The academic controversy is also the subject of court proceedings in which COFEK has questioned aspects of Barasa’s academic progression and doctoral qualification. Barasa has disputed the basis of the petition, arguing that some of the concerns raised rely on publicly available information and alleged inconsistencies rather than his actual academic records.
His latest demand places the dispute firmly in the legal arena, with his lawyers seeking removal and retraction of the publications they regard as defamatory, alongside KSh100 million in damages. The demand letter gives COFEK two hours to comply and warns that court proceedings will follow if the demands are not met.
