Nairobi News

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has instilled a new dress code, banning a number of clothing items deemed fashionable especially by Gen Z.

In a memo to all students dated October 11, 2023, the Dean of Students, Dr Bernadette Abwao noted with concern that decent dressing was becoming a problem in the institution.

“I take this opportunity to appreciate all the students who dress decently when they come to the University. However, we have observed and noted with concern the indecent dressing by some of you. As students, you are expected to dress decently in modest and appropriate attire,” began Dr Abwao.

Dr Abwao proceeded to name a number of clothing and shoe items that will no longer be permitted on campus moving forward.

“Micro/mini skirts, skin tight trousers, ragged/torn/ripped jeans, tumbo-cut blouses/t-shirts, low-cut blouses/dresses, micro shorts and transparent dresses, attires that show bra straps or sleeveless t-shirts, t0shirts with obscene writings, sagging trousers and clothing that reveal the chest as well as ‘crocs’…should not be worn in the university,” stated Dr Abwao.

Also read: No chewing gum! Inside Equity Bank’s revised dress code for male staff

Further, slippers and plastic shoes that are not official wear were also banned.

Masinde Muliro joins a handful of other universities that instituted strict dress codes in light of fast fashion among the youth.

Kenya Methodist University, in January 2023, banned mid riff tops, mini skirts, see through clothing, bare back clothing, skirts that don’t go below the knee, tight trousers and blouses with plunging necklines.

The University were also prohibited from growing dreadlocks and plaiting their hair, wearing earrings and walking around with untucked shirts and blouses.

In the same January 2023, the University of Eldoret also banned nine outfits for the students. Female students were banned from wearing mini-skirts, skin-tight trousers, ragged/torn/ripped jeans, tumbo (mid-riff) cuts, bum shorts, and transparent dresses revealing parts of the body and inner clothing are inappropriate and not in line with the institution’s dress code.

Strathmore University also has a strict dress code for their students. Mini skirts, mid-riff blouses, blouses with plunging necklines, tight fitting clothing, track suits, shorts, rubber shoes and slippers were banned for female students.

For the male students, sleeveless shirts, loose fitting clothes and too tight clothes, slippers, sandals, track suits, shorts and t-shirts were banned.

Also read: Consider your body shape: Inside Equity Bank’s strict dress code for female staff