President William Ruto’s senior constitutional affairs advisor, Prof. Makau Mutua, has called on the Ministry of Education to bar honorary degree holders from using the title ‘Dr’.
In a statement shared on Wednesday, Mutua argued that the move would help protect academic integrity and distinguish between doctorates earned through rigorous academic study and honorary degrees, which are largely ceremonial.
Mutua pointed to Ethiopia’s July 2025 directive, where the Ministry of Education banned honorary doctorate recipients from using the “Dr” title outside the awarding institution. The Ethiopian government also placed strict limits on who can be conferred with such degrees, prohibiting political figures, serving officials, and newly established universities from granting them.
Similarly, in September 2025, Ghana’s Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) barred the public use of honorary doctorates and professorial titles. The commission noted that the misuse of honorary titles by politicians, clergy, and business leaders undermines the credibility of academic achievements and misleads the public.
Mutua insists Kenya should follow suit.
“This protects academic integrity and distinguishes between earned and ceremonial titles. Kenya must follow suit,” he stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Honorary degrees are often awarded by universities as a way of recognizing an individual’s contributions to society, business, or the arts. According to the University of Nairobi, they represent the highest honor a university can bestow. Recipients typically receive the award during graduation ceremonies and may deliver a speech to graduates.
However, critics argue that allowing recipients to publicly use the title “Dr” blurs the line between genuine scholarship and honorary recognition. Ethiopia and Ghana’s reforms aim to preserve the prestige of higher education and reduce political or institutional favoritism in awarding degrees.
As Kenya debates this issue, Mutua’s proposal is likely to spark discussion in academic and political circles, especially given the frequent conferring of honorary degrees to public figures.
