This archive report was first published on 14 October 2021.
October 13, 2021, marked a day of controversy at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as students took to social media and email to protest the election of their student leader, Mark Thiong'o Mwangi.
According to students, Mwangi has failed two units, which is in direct contravention of the JKUSA constitution, which bars candidates with such a record from standing for election.
The university's administration has been accused of rigging in candidates, with the election of Mwangi's running mate, Grace Joy Ngumi, the Vice-Chancellor's daughter, being seen as a prime example of nepotism.
Students have taken to social media to express their outrage, with one student, Jeffrey Osano, writing on Twitter, 'The JKUAT Vice Chancellors daughter and other Kikuyu aspirant have been made go unopposed in the upcoming university elections. They’ve disqualified other viable aspirants from other tribes. Highest level of nepotism and tribalism.'
Another student, Maigua David, wrote, 'It's unacceptable that JKUAT a very well respected institution of higher learning is practicing nepotism ….leaders going unopposed and they have supplementaries.. Mark thiong'o.'
The university's administration has been accused of deploying armed police officers to the Dean of Students office to intimidate students and prevent them from protesting.
Out of the 7 executive positions in the student union, 5 went unopposed, with students accusing the administration of rigging in candidates.
As one student, Elly John, wrote, 'There is a general embodiment of unfairness in Kenyan education system, tribe is a major factor in decision making in most of this public institutions, we have a state but they lack a country. What's visible is a tip of iceberg.'
