No Crocs, Miniskirts: Items Banned From Masinde Muliro University Dress Code [LIST]

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in Kakamega County has issued a list of items banned from its dress code policy imposed on its students.

According to an internal memo dated Wednesday, October 11 and seen by Viral Tea, the institution’s Dean of Students Bernardatte Abwao raised concerns regarding the increase in what it termed as an "indecent dressing" by some of its learners.

Abwao went on to advise the students regarding the importance of dressing in decent attire whenever they step onto campus grounds.

A building at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). /MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY

"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 a student, you are expected to dress decently in modest and appropriate attire," read the memo in part.

MMUST went on to outlaw the following items from its dress code, terming them "not official":

1. Micro/mini-skirts
2. Skin-tight trousers
3. Ragged/torn/ripped jeans.
4. Tumbo-cut blouses/T-shirts
5. Low-cut blouses/dresses
6. Micro shorts, and
7. Transparent dresses.

Also banned are attires that show bra straps or sleeveless T-shirts.

T-shirts with obscene writings, sagging trousers and clothing that reveals the chest, as well as ragged/torn/ripped jeans, and "crocs" were also struck out from MMUST's dress code.

"Please note that slippers, crocs and all plastic shoes are not official wear, and should not be worn in the University," added Abwao, requesting all students to dress decently.

MMUST, according to its philosophy on its official website, holds the view that science and technology are indispensable tools in harnessing resources of nature for sustainable development and creating an environment in which human beings can survive and realize their potential.

"Thus, the human person has the moral obligation to creatively improve the environment. This can be achieved through a well-conceptualized educational, scientific and technological package through which every human being must rightfully experience and acquire the tools to facilitate this mission," indicates the website.

The university was founded through Harambee spirit on January 5, 1972, as Western College of Arts and Applied Sciences (WECO) under the stewardship of the former fiery Member of Parliament (MP), Henry Pius Masinde Muliro.

MMUST joins a growing list of universities in Kenya imposing official dress codes despite the criticism they generated for trying to turn the tertiary institutions into carbon copies of high schools.

The Kenya University Student Organization (KUSO), through its president, Antony Manyara, urged all university students across the country to ignore new directives ignored by universities such as Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) and the University of Eldoret regarding dress code.

He argued on Sunday, January 22 that there is no approved law, policy or set of regulations that have been passed globally or approved by stakeholders in the institutions of higher learning regarding dress code rules in Kenya.

Manyara further called upon all university students to shun any dress code policies imposed on them by their respective institutions, terming them oppressive and retrogressive to student life on campus.