Moi University has issued a new dress code targeting students wearing mini skirts, ripped jeans, skin-tight trousers, transparent clothes and other outfits the institution considers inappropriate.
The university has warned that students who violate the new rules could face disciplinary action, as it moves to enforce stricter standards of dressing on campus.
In an internal memo dated Tuesday, September 22, Dean of Students Alice Mutai directed all students to dress in “modest and appropriate attire” while within the institution.
“I wish to bring to your attention Article 3.1.1 a, c, d and e of the rules and regulations governing the conduct and discipline of students,” the memo read in part.
“Students are expected to dress decently in modest and appropriate attire. However, we have observed and noted with concern the indecent dressing by some of you,” it added.
Among the clothes listed as prohibited are micro and mini skirts, skin-tight trousers, ragged, torn or ripped jeans, cropped blouses and cropped T-shirts.
The university has also banned low-cut blouses and dresses, micro shorts, transparent dresses and other see-through clothing.
Off-shoulder outfits and sleeveless T-shirts that expose bra straps are also prohibited under the new guidelines.
Students have further been warned against wearing T-shirts with obscene writings, sagging trousers and clothes that expose the chest.
Slippers, Crocs Banned
Moi University has also declared that slippers, Crocs and all plastic shoes do not qualify as official footwear.
The institution directed students to avoid wearing the footwear within the university.
Mutai warned that failure to comply with the dress code could attract disciplinary action under the university's rules governing student conduct.
"All students should desist from inappropriate dressing while at the University as this may result in disciplinary action," Mutai stated.
The university has gone a step further by directing its staff not to serve students who report to offices dressed inappropriately.
Staff members have instead been instructed to ensure students comply with the prescribed dress standards before receiving services.
Other universities with dress rules
Moi University joins a growing list of Kenyan universities that have introduced or reinforced rules governing students' appearance.
In January 2023, the University of Eldoret introduced dress code guidelines that included restrictions on cross-dressing and required students to observe what it described as proper and appropriate dressing.
Kenya Methodist University has also issued regulations covering students' appearance, including restrictions on dreadlocks, plaited hair, earrings, tops exposing the navel and skirts above the knee.
