Sifuna Denied Entry at JKUAT Karen Campus as Forum Is Cancelled
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was denied entry at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Karen campus, where he was scheduled to address students.
In a post on Thursday, September 17, Sifuna said he had been invited by the university’s student leadership to speak at an inaugural forum on law, policy and governance. However, the Senator said he was only informed that the event was cancelled at the last minute when he arrived at the campus to find the main gate closed, with security preventing him and his team from entering the institution.
“We came to JKUAT Karen on the invitation of the student leadership for their Inaugural Law, Policy and Governance forum, but the Administration has abruptly ‘cancelled’ the event and denied us access to the institution. Totally uncalled for,” Sifuna said.
Students Also Kept Out
Reports indicated that a group of students who had also been waiting outside was initially kept out before some were later allowed onto the campus.
In a video shared by the Linda Mwananchi leader, a university official explained to some students gathered outside the gate that the event was postponed over fears of student unrest. The official told the students that the participants involved in the forum would be invited back for the meeting at a later date.
“We don’t want students to cause chaos. We have postponed the meeting; then we will invite them again later,” he stated.
Another reason given for the postponement was the absence of several professors, according to a university official.
Reasons Remain Unclear
The circumstances surrounding the decision to stop Sifuna from entering the institution were not immediately clear. JKUAT’s administration had not, at the time of the incident, publicly identified the official who ordered the cancellation or provided further details on when the forum would be rescheduled.
According to video footage taken at the scene, Sifuna’s envoy remained outside the entrance as discussions continued between his team and university representatives.
Sifuna Responds
The incident comes amid a series of political engagements across Nairobi by the senator and the Linda Mwananchi movement ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a later post, Sifuna condemned the atmosphere of fear surrounding public events and announced plans to invite the JKUAT student leadership to the Senate to continue the dialogue.
“There is just fear everywhere…but a bold new generation must rise and reclaim their country. This is why we continue to preach the values in the preamble of our Constitution, most importantly, freedom. I thank the Governor, Students Association Karen Campus, Graham Mboya, for the invitation. I’ll be returning the courtesy by inviting you and your fellow students to the Senate so that the conversation can continue,” he added.