NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court has declined a bid by Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to stop United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) from holding its September 26 graduation ceremony amid a dispute over his PhD programme.
Justice Patricia Mande declined to suspend the university’s 48th commencement ceremony, allowing the graduation to proceed as scheduled while Masengeli’s dispute with the institution remains before the court.
Masengeli Claims PhD Process Was Delayed
Masengeli enrolled at USIU-Africa in September 2021 to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations.
Through his lawyer, Cecil Miller, he argued that he had completed the required coursework and examinations and had progressed through the dissertation stage of the programme.
Masengeli said he submitted his first dissertation draft in June 2026 and subsequently made corrections following feedback from his supervisors.
He further claimed that examination reports had been received by the university but that he was not informed of the outcome or given clear information on what remained before completion of his doctoral studies.
He argued that the lack of clarity had placed his academic progression at risk as the September graduation approached.
USIU Says Mandatory Requirements Remain
USIU-Africa opposed the application, maintaining that Masengeli had not completed all the requirements for the award of a PhD.
Through lawyer Chege Njoroge, the university told the court that Masengeli was yet to defend his dissertation before a panel of internal and external examiners.
The earliest available date for the dissertation defence was given as October 6, 2026, after the September 26 graduation date.
“What Masengeli is inviting the court to do is disregard the procedures of running the programmes,” Njoroge submitted.
University Cites Publication Requirements
USIU-Africa also told the court that Masengeli was required to demonstrate publication of two journal articles arising from his research and obtain the necessary confirmation before completing the programme.
The university argued that even a successful dissertation defence would not automatically result in graduation because the matter would still have to proceed to the university Senate for approval.
USIU-Africa therefore maintained that Masengeli could not be included in the September graduation list before completing those stages.
USIU Rejects Claims of Unreasonable Delay
The university disputed Masengeli’s claim that it had unreasonably delayed his academic process.
USIU-Africa said Masengeli submitted his research proposal 16 months after enrolling and that the proposal was approved for defence in December 2025.
His dissertation subsequently went through internal review and correction stages, with submissions made in June, July and August 2026.
The university also argued that Masengeli had not exhausted its internal academic grievance mechanisms before approaching the High Court.
Njoroge said the earliest complaint from Masengeli was a demand issued through his lawyer in August, when the university’s position was that he could not graduate because mandatory requirements remained outstanding.
Masengeli Says He Expected to Graduate
Masengeli’s lawyer, Cecil Miller, maintained that his client had been progressing toward completion and had reasonably expected to graduate with his cohort.
Miller said Masengeli had submitted corrected versions of his dissertation, including a further correction on July 23.
He argued that communication subsequently stopped and that Masengeli’s name was omitted from the graduation list without a satisfactory explanation.
“He was all the way towards graduation and fulfilled all the requirements, then a total silence and a list is issued, and his name is missing,” Miller told the court.
Masengeli has maintained that he is not asking the court to award him a PhD without following academic procedures, but wants the court to examine whether USIU-Africa lawfully and fairly handled his academic process.
USIU-Africa Graduation to Proceed
The court’s decision means USIU-Africa can proceed with its September 26, 2026 graduation ceremony.
The university’s official calendar lists the event as its 48th Commencement Ceremony, scheduled for September 26 at the USIU-Africa graduation grounds.
Masengeli’s separate dispute over the processing and completion of his PhD remains before the court.
The case will therefore determine whether the university’s handling of his doctoral programme complied with the applicable academic and administrative requirements, but the September graduation will not be halted pending that determination.
