Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna arrived at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s Karen campus on Thursday expecting to speak with students. Instead, he found the planned forum cancelled and was initially denied entry to the campus.
Sifuna had been invited by student leaders to attend the inaugural Law, Policy and Governance Forum, organised by the Jomo Kenyatta University Students’ Association. The event was intended to bring students and guests together to discuss law, governance and public policy.
University cites concerns over possible unrest
According to an official who spoke to students outside the campus, the meeting was postponed because of concerns that it could lead to unrest.
“We don’t want students to cause problems. We have postponed the meeting, then we will invite them again,” the official said, according to video shared by Sifuna.
The university has not, in the reports reviewed, publicly provided a detailed written explanation for the cancellation.
Sifuna said the decision came as a surprise. He said he had travelled to the campus at the invitation of the student leadership and rejected the suggestion that he was there to hold a political rally.
“They don’t believe it because I have not come here for a rally,” he told journalists outside the campus.
He said politicians should be able to meet young people to discuss issues beyond party politics.
“We can actually just come and have conversations about even the weather. We can talk about anything, including what you guys like to have for lunch,” he said.
Sifuna says the conversation should continue
The incident drew students and their leaders to the campus entrance, where Sifuna addressed them after the cancellation.
He later said the episode reflected what he described as a wider atmosphere of fear around public engagement.
“Bwana there is just fear everywhere, but a bold new generation must rise up and reclaim their country,” he said, linking his remarks to constitutional freedoms.
Sifuna thanked Karen Campus Governor Mboya for inviting him and said he would host the students at Parliament instead.
“I’ll be returning the courtesy by inviting you and your fellow students to the Senate so that the conversation can continue,” he said.
NTV Kenya separately reported that Sifuna was later allowed into the campus for a private meeting with university management, although the student forum itself did not proceed as planned. (NTV Kenya)
The episode comes days after Sifuna and other leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement held a political rally in Nairobi. The National Police Service said that rally was conducted peacefully and within the law.
The university has said the student engagement will be held at a later date, while Sifuna has indicated that he intends to continue the discussion with the students at the Senate.
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