Kenya plans to replace paper-based university degrees with digital credentials that can be verified online, as part of a government effort to curb forgery and restore credibility in the country’s higher education system.
- •The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy said the new system will create a secure digital platform allowing employers and institutions to instantly authenticate academic qualifications.
- •Developed with the Ministry of Education and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the technology is set to rely on digital wallets and cryptographic verification to issue tamper-proof credentials to graduates.
- •The Tony Blair Institute has been a vocal global advocate for digital identification and verifiable credentials, an agenda it has also promoted in the United Kingdom, where former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged the adoption of a national digital ID system.
However, this proposal has faced mounting opposition in Britain, drawing sharp criticism from civil liberties groups, cybersecurity experts, and political opponents. Critics argue that such centralized digital systems risk eroding privacy, expanding state surveillance, and creating an “enormous hacking target.”
Organizations like Liberty and Big Brother Watch have denounced the plan as a potential step toward a surveillance state, while technical experts warn that consolidating sensitive biometric and personal data in one repository increases vulnerability to cyberattacks.
Public sentiment in the UK has shifted dramatically, with polls showing support for digital IDs falling from more than half of respondents to barely a third, with opposition nearly doubling. Over 1.5 million Britons have signed petitions protesting the scheme, fearing data misuse and government overreach.
The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK have both declared their opposition, while regional leaders in Northern Ireland have raised legal concerns over its compatibility with the Good Friday Agreement.
Opponents also caution that digital ID systems could marginalize vulnerable populations, including those without access to smartphones or stable internet, while failing to address the underlying causes of fraud or illegal activity the system purports to fix.
But…What about fixing Higher Education?
Despite the controversy abroad, Kenyan officials have framed their partnership with the Tony Blair Institute as a step toward modernization rather than surveillance, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and integrity in the issuance of academic credentials. They say the system will reduce the cost and time required to issue degrees while making verification faster and more reliable for employers both in Kenya and abroad.
The rollout comes as lawmakers intensify scrutiny of Kenyan universities, where regulators are struggling with rising cases of fake degrees, outdated courses, and mounting debts.
A recent inspection by the National Assembly’s Committee on Education found that the Commission for University Education (CUE), the sector’s regulator, faces KSh935.7 million debt and operates with less than half its approved staff capacity.
Lawmakers also accused the regulator of failing to stem the flow of fraudulent certificates and questioned the relevance of some academic programs that continue to produce graduates ill-suited to the job market.
The commission acknowledged these challenges but cited a hiring freeze and spending limits imposed by the National Treasury as constraints on its oversight capacity.
According to CUE’s University Statistics 2024/2025 Report, university enrolment surged 12.4% even as lecturer numbers fail to keep pace. The average teacher-to-student ratio in public universities has worsened to 1:44 — far above the level recommended for effective learning.
Researchers warn that such rapid expansion without matching investment risks turning universities into “degree factories.” Faculty research output has already fallen, with academic publications dropping 7% between 2023 and 2024, according to the CUE report. Laboratories, libraries, and lecture halls remain overstretched, while some universities continue to offer outdated courses ill-suited to the modern job market.
Meanwhile, the CUE has stepped up audits and curriculum reviews, requiring universities to conduct market surveys before launching new programs. In the past year, it evaluated nearly 400 academic programs and has been preparing institutions to transition to Competency-Based Education by revising teacher education curricula and retraining lecturers.
The parliamentary probe also highlighted the growing tension between CUE and professional bodies over program accreditation, a long-running dispute that has led to conflicting court rulings and confusion for students entering regulated professions. Lawmakers pressed the commission to develop clearer policies that distinguish between academic qualifications and professional licensing.
