Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has directed the Commission for University Education (CUE) to conduct an audit of the dental training programmes offered by Moi University and the University of Nairobi (UoN).
In a directive to the commission, Ogamba instructed CUE to examine the issues raised about the programme and submit its findings to the Ministry of Education within two weeks.
“The Commission is required to take note of the contents of the subject letter and render a comprehensive advisory thereon to the ministry, within 14 days from the date hereof,” the CS directed.
CS Ogamba Orders 14-Day Audit of UoN, Moi University Dental Programmes
The audit comes after the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) questioned the legal accreditation status of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes offered by the University of Nairobi (UoN) and Moi University.
They claimed that the courses may not have been formally accredited under the current legal framework.
In a demand letter dated June 10, 2026, to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, COFEK urged the government to investigate the programmes, arguing that they may have continued operating without accreditation by the Commission for University Education, as required under the Universities (Amendment) Act, 2016.
The letter, copied to CUE Chief Executive Officer Mike Kuria and Kenya Dental Association President Kahura Mundia, argues that while the universities received their charters in 2013, it is unclear whether their BDS programmes were formally re-approved or accredited before the amended law took effect on January 13, 2017.
Also Read: Law, Nursing Among 10 Most Sought-After Degree Courses in Kenya
COFEK Claims UoN, Moi Dental Programmes May Lack Required Accreditation
COFEK based its position on a May 28, 2026 ruling by the High Court of Kenya, in which Justice William Musyoka held that CUE has the exclusive statutory mandate to recognize, license and accredit all university academic programmes under Section 5A(2) of the Universities Act.
“Both UoN and Moi University received their first and only charters in 2013 — under Legal Notices 192 and 202 of 2013 respectively, commencing 16 August and 20 September 2013. Before those dates, both institutions existed solely as statutory corporations under Acts of Parliament, not as chartered universities,” read part of the letter.
Also Read: UON, Karatina, Rongo and Other Kenyan Universities Offering Education Degree Courses
The consumer lobby group argued that if the BDS programmes were not formally accredited under the current framework, they should undergo a full accreditation process.
COFEK also called for a nationwide audit of all university health sciences programmes, saying the review should not be limited to dental programmes alone.
The group also wants CUE to complete the audit within 90 days, publish a register of all accredited university programmes within 30 days, and confirm the accreditation status of all BDS programmes within 14 days.
The federation warned that it would move to the High Court if CUE fails to act within the stipulated timelines, seeking orders to compel the commission to undertake its statutory accreditation mandate.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
