Kenyatta University has suspended one of its students, Steven Odiwuor, following allegations of misconduct that include incitement, unauthorized public statements, and violation of the university’s media policy.
According to an official suspension letter, the decision was reached after a report from the Director of Security Services linked Odiwuor to activities deemed unlawful and disruptive to the institution’s order.
The letter, signed by the Registrar (Academic), Prof. Benard Kivunge, states that the student organized and incited illegal gatherings and demonstrations, made public statements without authorization, and misused the university’s media platforms to spread misinformation and cause unrest among students.
The Registrar further accused Odiwuor of threatening the safety of students, staff, and the public, as well as showing open disrespect and insubordination toward lawful university authority.
As a result, the university took the disciplinary action of suspending him from all academic and extracurricular activities with immediate effect, pending his appearance before the Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC), whose hearing date will be communicated later.
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The letter also prohibits the suspended student from accessing any of the university’s premises during the period of suspension.
The copies of the communication were sent to senior university officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Executive Dean of the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, and several departmental heads.
Sources within the university community indicate that the suspension followed a series of student meetings and online commentaries allegedly organized by Odiwuor, in which he criticized the administration’s handling of student welfare and the staff industrial action.
Speaking to Education News this morning, Odiwour, confirmed that indeed the suspension took place, however said that he was unfairly targeted despite the press meeting he hold had over nine delegates.
“Actually, I was suspended from school, banned from accessing any of school premises…just after I raised the concern about the ongoing lecturers strike that was called off yesterday. The grounds that the administration is suspending me on are not fair at all, there was no incitement, I threatened no one, there is no breech to students’ nor public safety,” Odiwuor said.
He added that there is no institution policy that he abused, saying that the management just feared the truth after he raised concern that students were suffering after the strike went for seven weeks without a statement from the school, saying that all is because of his strong university political base.
He also revealed that since election, he has been getting threats from the university management over time, the trick he said the school target to keep him out of school for several academic years to allow the elected leadership reign.
Odiwuor further said that he will not relent until he is rightfully served as he now waits for the senate verdict
While some students view his suspension as an attempt to silence student leadership and dissent, university officials maintain that the disciplinary action was necessary to safeguard institutional order and safety.
The incident has once again reignited debate on the limits of student activism and freedom of expression within Kenyan universities.
Similar cases in the past have sparked discussions about how universities balance student rights with institutional discipline and policy enforcement
By Kithinji Njeru
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