[quote=a4architect.com]PhD in formal employment is a good way to easily rank the level of knowledge. PhD in the private sector/sole proprietorship is only to soothe the holder's ego. Clients dont come to anyone for service based on academic qualifications. They come based on the knowledge level. Einstein and Planc didnt have PhD academic qualifications but still managed huge wealth reservoir of knowledge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein[/quote]
Please use another example not Einstein

You are are right but looking at things from a practical aspect. Phd level & masters (some courses) are research based and aimed at improving on the body of existing knowledge. A bachelors fellow can be a good chicken expert but that ends there. Who do we turn to if we want to look beyond the horizons? Researchers are working day and night to find drought resistant crops with increased yield that can grow in few days. Bsc. fellows will then be 'experts' in those innovations made by researchers. Doctors treat patients using new improved medicines resulting from researchers work (Phd.) unless ni wa miti shamba who are constantly boiling herbs and researching in the villages. And by the way, you do not need to be a Phd. to be a researcher..a minimum is masters degree. I know of Masters level lecturers who have done tonnes of research and supervise Phd. candidates. Ni vile hawataki to be awarded Phd. it wont add any value to them as their work speaks for itself (that is in Europe)...in 3rd world countries, a Phd. is the ultimate goal for those university lecturers teaching freshers.

As a country we can never develop sustainably until we take research seriously. There is a limit to which external research can help us. We need home grown solutions from researchers thinking Kenyan, using our own knowledge.

Honestly in Kenya, bachelor level education does not prepare you for further research work or to think broadly. Our universities churn out half baked graduates (including me). They won't realize it until they hit the industry and realize they need more training.

well put. PhD is the ultimate prize for most scholars. There are very few PhD holders in Kenya creating a shortage of qualified staff in most public and private universities. The government should control the mushrooming of universities at every corner. This will help safeguard the quality of university education.

How could I forget that lady Prof from JKUAT that gave us banana tissue culture
Prof Imbuga Francis rip, Prof Ngugi wa Thiongo . . .Prof Egara Kabajji Prof Mazrui, Dr K D Singh, Prof Smokin Wanjala, Prof Githu Muigai, Dr Nyandemo . The list is endless
Prof Magoha, Prof Onyango

This country has been made great by sons and daughters that answered the call higher calling. They shaped young kenyans in institutions of higher learning they inspired. We salute you

I know a guy who has been very brilliant in field work, he made his catch as a surveyor did all donkey works and became filthy rich. He started GIS application in revenue management for municipalities, as much as they were good the politics has been the biggest hindrance. He ventured to politics to see whether he can change anything but still its becoming even worse especially if you are on the wrong side of the gava. Currently he is pursuing a phd in use of GIS for municipal and revenue management in the third world. His is a quest to know how best things can be done rather than getting a phd just to have it. In the international circles this has elicited serious debates and the fathers of GIS (Mostly at ESRI) i understand they are trying to follow on what the guy is doing so that they can understand better how to deal with the issue especially in third world where political interference is too much. For those who pursue their dreams in such a manner i dont doubt that they will leave a lasting solution to our well being