Makau Mutua wants honorary doctorate holders barred from using title ‘Dr’

Chairperson of President William Ruto’s Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Protests, Makau Mutua, has called on Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba to bar holders of honorary doctorates from using the title “Dr.”

Through his X account on Tuesday, October 1, 2025, Mutua pointed to Ethiopia’s decision in July 2025, which banned honorary doctorate holders from using the title.

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The East African nation restricted how universities can confer honorary degrees to prevent misleading the public about academic expertise.

“In July 2025, Ethiopia banned those with honorary doctorates from using the title ‘Dr.’” Mutua wrote, stressing that public trust in academic qualifications is at stake.

He further noted that academic titles represent years of study and research. Allowing honorary degree holders to adopt them, he said, risks diluting their significance and could mislead citizens regarding professional expertise.

Also watch: Man awarded doctorate after surviving death.

Mutua urged the Ministry of Education to issue clear regulations that would preserve the distinction between earned and honorary academic titles. He emphasised that universities play a critical role in upholding academic standards and ensuring that ceremonial recognition does not undermine scholarly achievement.

The panel chairperson also highlighted the broader implications of honorary degree misuse, arguing that it could erode public confidence in Kenya’s academic institutions and diminish the value of legitimate qualifications.

“This protects academic integrity and distinguishes between earned and ceremonial titles,” Mutua noted.

The call comes months after the Engineering Board of Kenya (EBK) ordered Northwestern Christian University-Kenya to withdraw the honorary doctorate degree it had awarded to Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, citing public complaints over the misuse of the professional title “Engineer”.

An honorary doctorate is a ceremonial degree awarded by a university to recognise a person’s notable contributions, achievements, or service in a particular field, rather than for completing academic coursework or research.

It is usually given to public figures, leaders, or professionals as a form of recognition and does not carry the same academic or professional qualifications as an earned doctorate.