The University of Nairobi has issued a statement of clarification regarding 200 students who were allegedly removed from the graduation list.
This came after videos emerged on Thursday, December 12, depicting students storming the Dean’s Office demanding to know why they were not part of the graduation list ahead of the big day on Friday.
In a statement released on Thursday, the university clarified noting that reports that the students had been de-listed from the graduation list days before graduation were misleading.
“The University categorically affirms that no student who has qualified, been cleared and subsequently approved by the Senate has been denied the opportunity to graduate,” the statement read.
A section of students who stormed the dean’s office at UoN.
According to the University, degrees are only conferred upon the successful fulfillment of successful program requirements and are subject to final approval from the Senate.
Further, the institution refuted claims that qualified candidates had been excluded from the list, adding, “We are not aware of any cases in which qualified students cleared and approved by the senate have been unjustly excluded from the graduation list.”
Students with a clean academic record were notified by the school about the graduation process in October 2024 through a circular that notified the students about the graduation process and requirements.
Subsequently, the institution says there were consistent reminders to qualified students through media as students set to graduate were urged to clear outstanding balances and pay for graduation fees to guarantee their participation in the December 13 event.
The statement came amid complaints from a section of UoN students, who had a contrasting version of events. One student claimed the exclusion was unjust and poorly communicated.
It is believed that the exclusion of over 200 students had something to do with either of these factors – discrepancies in course credits, missing marks, and unresolved administrative matters.
At the same time, UoN’s exclusion of the students came at a time when tertiary institutions were on the spotlight from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over malpractices.
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, for example, is under investigation over a recent graduation where over 200 unqualified students bribed university officials in order to graduate.
University of Nairobi students at a graduation ceremony in December 2019.
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UoN