Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has taken his academic dispute with United States International University (USIU) to the High Court, seeking intervention over delays in the processing of his PhD dissertation.
Masengeli, who is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations at USIU, argues that the university’s handling of the final stages of his doctoral programme has left him uncertain about whether he will be included in the September 2026 graduation cycle.
The senior police officer reportedly joined USIU in September 2021 and embarked on a five-year doctoral programme through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
According to details contained in his court petition, he completed his coursework and examinations, with his results approved by the university’s Board of Examiners around August 2023.
He subsequently proceeded to the dissertation stage, which is one of the critical final requirements for a PhD.
Masengeli’s dissertation journey
According to the court documents, Masengeli was assigned a supervisor in July 2024 before submitting his final research proposal on May 30, 2025.
He said the proposal went through the required academic process, after which he undertook fieldwork that he completed within two weeks.
The police boss later submitted his first dissertation draft on June 11, 2026. He said his internal supervisor responded within 14 days, while a second supervisor responded three days after the first, allowing him to make the required adjustments.
Masengeli subsequently submitted a second dissertation draft on July 14, 2026.
His internal supervisor acknowledged receipt two days later and indicated that the document would be reviewed.
The disagreement appears to have emerged during the examination and processing of the dissertation results.
Masengeli claims that he was informed that the results from the examiners had been received, but that they had not been released or communicated to him in a manner that would allow him to complete the remaining stages of his doctoral programme.
Masengeli says he is not asking court to award him PhD. Photo: UGC
Why the September graduation matters
The timing has become particularly important because USIU’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for September 26, 2026.
Masengeli told the court that the university’s final graduation list was expected to be prepared by September 11, creating a narrow window within which his academic status could be resolved.
He argues that continued delays could effectively lock him out of the September graduation cycle even if he has satisfied the substantive academic requirements.
His complaint, however, is not framed as a demand for an automatic PhD award.
Instead, Masengeli wants the court to examine whether USIU followed a fair, transparent and timely administrative process in handling his dissertation and examination.
He has asked the court to temporarily restrain the university from proceeding with the September 26 graduation until the dispute is considered.
Masengeli says he is not asking court to award him PhD
A significant aspect of the case is Masengeli’s position that he is not asking the High Court to determine the academic quality of his dissertation or compel USIU to award him a doctoral degree.
Rather, he wants the institution’s administrative process examined.
His argument is that the uncertainty surrounding his dissertation results has created an obstacle at a point when he expected to complete his studies.
He maintains that allowing the graduation ceremony to proceed before his petition is heard could prejudice his chances of being considered for the September graduation.
A cross section of the Kenyan media reported that Masengeli argued that the issue was about alleged administrative delays rather than an entitlement to an academic award.
USIU dispute comes as Masengeli builds academic credentials
The PhD programme forms part of Masengeli’s broader academic and professional development.
According to the National Police Service Commission, Masengeli holds a Master of Science in Security and Forensics Management and a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Security Management, with a specialisation in Digital Forensic Technology and Cybercrime, from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
He also holds a diploma in criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.
The police commission currently lists him as pursuing a PhD in International Relations at USIU.
His academic interests have run alongside a long career in the National Police Service, where he has held several senior positions.
The NPSC profile describes him as a career police officer with more than 35 years of experience, including service as Commandant of the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ campus and leadership within the Special Operations Group.
Court intervention now sought
The dispute therefore places USIU and one of Kenya’s most senior police officers in an unusual legal contest over the final stages of a doctoral programme.
The immediate issue before the court is whether the university should be stopped from proceeding with its September 26 graduation while Masengeli’s concerns over his dissertation examination and academic progression remain unresolved.
The case is expected to be mentioned before Justice Patricia Nyaundi, according to court proceedings reported by The Standard.
For Masengeli, the outcome could determine whether his years of doctoral study culminate in the September graduation ceremony or whether he has to wait for another graduation cycle.
For USIU, the case brings questions about the administration of postgraduate examinations, communication with doctoral candidates and the procedures governing the transition from dissertation examination to graduation.
As the September 26 ceremony approaches, attention will now shift to the High Court and whether it will grant Masengeli’s request to preserve the status quo while the substantive issues surrounding his PhD process are determined.
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