“That Is Misleading!” – Ruto Blasts Murkomen, Ogamba Over Graduation Attire
On Tuesday, President William Ruto publicly corrected Interior and Education Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Julius Ogamba.
This comes after they urged that the government make modifications to allow persons with prior learning to qualify for PhDs.
The moment occurred during the first National Intelligence and Research University graduation in Nairobi, when Interior CS Murkomen was about to speak.
He requested his education colleague, Julius Ogamba, to look for ways for those with past learning to receive PhDs based on their services to society.
President Ruto to CS Ogamba: I am a former minister for Higher Education. The suggestion by Murkomen that you can change your status using recognition of prior learning is misleading. It's not possible for you to get a PhD using that route. You will not succeed. There are no… pic.twitter.com/oGDpGjVgpn
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 17, 2026
Murkomen, on a lighter side, expressed amazement at the academic regalia he got.
While his colleagues, including the President, were given the round motorboard (graduation cap) worn by PhD graduates, he was given a square one.
Murkomen suggested that CS Ogamba make changes so that people in his category might be identified and wear round motorboards at future graduation ceremonies.
“During discussions in the waiting room, I was very concerned because of the motorboard that I was given,” Murkomen said.
“I saw other people wearing a round one, but I was given a square one. I was very concerned until I realised that round ones are given only to those who have attained their PhD.”
He added, “So I asked Mr Ogamba, who is also in the same category as me and is the CS of Education, since he has been preaching about recognition of prior learning, to do something so that in the next graduation we can also wear something better than mine.”
However, when the Head of State rose to speak, after following the usual greeting ritual, he reminded the two CSs that the suggestion was not appropriate.
President Ruto stated that, as Minister of Higher Education during the Grand Coalition government, the conversation breached established processes.
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He reminded Murkomen that gaining a PhD requires adhering to official, established procedures rather than pursuing shortcuts through the acknowledgement of prior learning.
“Allow me to assist my two Cabinet Ministers as a former Minister for Higher Education,” Ruto clarified.
“The suggestion by Kipchumba Murkomen that you can change your status using recognition of prior learning (RPL), Mr Ogamba, is misleading, and it is not possible to get a PhD using that route. You will not succeed.”
He added, “It does not matter how much redemption you try; there are no shortcuts. You have to go through the process. I advise that next time you do what you have to do so that you can wear the right attire.”
“That Is Misleading!” – Ruto Blasts Murkomen, Ogamba Over Graduation Attire
