Ruto Turns Against Murkomen, Publicly Says This

Bashirjuma February 17, 2026 1 min read

President William Ruto firmly rejected any notion of awarding PhDs through shortcuts during a recent event at State House, Nairobi.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the National Intelligence and Research University on February 17, 2026, the President addressed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directly, drawing on his own experience as a former Minister for Higher Education.

The remarks came after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen jokingly suggested exploring Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)—a policy that credits informal or experiential knowledge—to allow individuals (including himself and possibly others) to upgrade their academic status to PhD level. Murkomen had urged Ogamba, responsible for education policy, to investigate this route for future graduations.

Ruto swiftly intervened, calling the idea misleading. “The suggestion by Murkomen that you can change your status using recognition of prior learning is misleading,” he stated. “It’s not possible for you to get a PhD using that route. You will not succeed. There are no shortcuts.”

His intervention underscored the importance of rigorous academic processes for doctoral degrees, emphasizing discipline and formal study over quick fixes. The exchange, captured in viral clips and posts from NTV Kenya, sparked online discussions about academic integrity in Kenyan leadership.

Ruto’s stance reinforces that advanced qualifications demand dedication, not policy workarounds, amid ongoing debates on RPL’s scope in Kenya’s education system.