They sell hope wrapped in a gown, but the certificate inside is worth less than the paper it is printed on. The government, through the Commission for University Education (CUE), has today cracked the whip, publishing a shame list of 16 institutions operating illegally in Kenya.

In a stern notice that will send shivers down the spines of thousands of unsuspecting students and parents, the CUE declared these entities "unauthorised." The tragedy is not just the loss of money—millions of shillings in fees—but the theft of time. Students who have spent years in these lecture halls have effectively been studying for a phantom qualification.

The Roll of Shame

The list includes faith-based colleges and institutions posing as international satellite campuses. Among the blacklisted are:

• Eldoret Bible College and Al-Munawarrah College.
• The Africa Talent University and Kenya Anglican University.
• Bradegate International University and Dominion Mission Theological University.
• Harvest Land University and Word of Faith Bible College.

A National Crisis

"We are seeing a proliferation of academic kiosks," warned CUE CEO Mike Kuria. "They rent a flat, buy a few plastic chairs, and call themselves a university. It is fraud, plain and simple." The Commission has urged employers to reject certificates from these institutions, a move that could render thousands of graduates unemployable overnight.

This crackdown comes at a time when the demand for higher education in Kenya is at an all-time high. Desperate to gain an edge in a brutal job market, young Kenyans are falling prey to these predators. The government’s message is harsh but necessary: Verify before you pay. If the degree is too easy to get, it is probably fake.