Kimilili MP Didmus Wekesa Barasa has graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from Murang’a University of Technology after completing his fieldwork and successfully defending his doctoral thesis.
The university had earlier confirmed that Barasa had fulfilled the requirements for the award in a letter dated June 16, 2026, from the Office of the Director, Postgraduate Studies.
According to the letter, Didmus Barasa successfully completed fieldwork and defended his thesis titled “Branding Strategies By County Governments On Service Delivery Among Small And Medium Enterprises In Bungoma County, Kenya.”
The research was supervised by Dr Nancy Muthoni and Dr Alice Omariba, according to the university document.
“Following successful completion of field work and thesis defense of your thesis … under the supervision of Dr Nancy Githaiga and Dr Alice Omariba, you have fulfilled the requirements for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration,” the university said.
Didmus Barasa Earns PhD in Public Administration From Murang’a University
The university congratulated Barasa on the achievement and said the degree would be conferred at its August 28, 2026 graduation ceremony.
Barasa’s doctoral qualification comes after questions were raised about his academic journey and the processes leading to his latest qualification.
In July, the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) challenged Barasa’s academic credentials and the process through which he obtained his latest qualification.
The consumer lobby filed Constitutional and Human Rights Petition No. E498 of 2026 at the High Court in Nairobi, naming Murang’a University of Technology and Barasa as respondents. The case also brought the Commission for University Education (CUE) into focus.
COFEK had earlier written to CUE and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), calling for investigations into Barasa’s academic credentials.
The organization raised questions over his academic history and whether the relevant institutions had carried out the necessary verification before he was admitted to the doctoral programme.
However, the university’s June letter confirmed that Barasa had completed his fieldwork and thesis defence and had fulfilled the requirements for the award of the doctorate.
Didmus Barasa’s PhD Research
Barasa’s doctoral research examined county government branding strategies and their relationship with service delivery satisfaction among small and medium enterprises in Bungoma County.
The study places county governments, service delivery and the business community at the centre of his academic work.
Barasa has also published research on county governance. A 2024 academic paper co-authored by Barasa and Alice Omariba examined impediments to effective leadership in Kenya’s county governments, including bureaucratic challenges, political interference and resource limitations.
His research work has therefore continued to focus on public administration, governance and the performance of county governments.
Barasa’s Academic Background
Barasa began his education at Nasianda Primary School, where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), before joining Kimilili Secondary School for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) between 1997 and 2000.
He later pursued a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Kenya Power and Lighting Training School, now the Institute of Energy Studies, between 2001 and 2004.
Barasa subsequently enrolled at Mount Kenya University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration between 2017 and 2021.
He followed this with a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Management from the same university between 2021 and 2022.
His academic record also includes a Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Mount Kenya University.
Career Before Politics
Before entering elective politics, Barasa worked in technical and corporate roles.
His parliamentary profile lists employment at Shell Co. Ltd in Australia, where he served as Corporate QHSE Manager, and at Bollore Africa Logistics, where he worked as Regional QHSE Manager for East Africa and the wider Great Lakes region.
From KDF to Politics
Before entering elective politics, Barasa served in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) technical wing as an avionics technician.
After leaving the military, he moved into the corporate sector, where he worked in Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) management roles.
He worked with several companies, including Shell Co. Ltd in Australia and Bolloré Africa Logistics.
Barasa entered elective politics in 2017 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Kimilili Constituency on a Jubilee Party ticket.
He joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2021 and successfully defended his seat during the 2022 General Election.
Since 2017, Didmus Barasa has served as a member of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Committee, positions he has held to date.
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