On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the Senate Standing Committee on Education hosted a delegation from the University of the Free State in South Africa at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi. The students were in Kenya as part of an academic visit to learn more about Parliament, education policy and leadership.
What caught my attention was not only why they were at Parliament, but also what they were wearing. The students were dressed in matching university attire. As I watched them, I found myself asking a simple question that we do not often discuss in Kenya: should university students wear uniforms?
As a Kenyan university student, I have grown up with the idea that uniforms are part of education. From primary school to secondary school, we were expected to dress in a particular way every day. The uniform became part of our routine, our identity and, in many cases, our understanding of discipline.
I remember how different it felt to move from one stage of education to another. In primary school, what you wore was largely decided for you. In secondary school, it was much the same. Then you reach university and suddenly you have much more freedom.
Personally, I appreciate that freedom. University is a time when we are learning to make decisions for ourselves. We are no longer children waiting for someone to tell us what to do at every moment. We are preparing for employment, leadership and adult life.
However, I also believe that we may have lost something along the way. When I saw the University of the Free State students in matching attire, I could see a sense of unity. They looked like a group that belonged together. More importantly, they looked like students proudly representing their university.
That made me think about Kenyan universities. We spend years studying at these institutions, but how strongly do we identify with them beyond our student cards and academic certificates?
I am not saying that Kenyan universities should introduce compulsory uniforms from Monday to Friday. Personally, I would not support simply copying the primary or secondary school system and forcing university students to dress alike every day.
University students are at a different stage of life. We should have room for personal expression and the responsibility to decide what is appropriate for ourselves. In my view, discipline at university should be seen through how a student behaves, studies, treats others and represents the institution, rather than simply through what they wear.
At the same time, I think Kenyan universities should consider having official university attire for important occasions. Students could wear it when visiting Parliament, attending international conferences, participating in exchange programmes, representing their universities abroad or taking part in major academic and community events.
I believe this could give students a stronger sense of belonging without taking away their freedom.
For me, the debate about university uniforms is therefore not really about shirts, trousers, skirts or colours. It is about identity. It is about whether we can give young people freedom while still reminding them that they belong to something bigger than themselves.
Our education journey in Kenya is already structured in stages. We start in primary school, move to secondary school and eventually enter university. With every stage, we are expected to become more mature and independent.
The uniform changes, but the values should remain. We should not assume that a uniform automatically creates discipline. I have seen students in smart uniforms behave irresponsibly, just as I have seen students in ordinary clothes show great discipline and respect. To me, true discipline comes from within.
Still, I believe there is something powerful about seeing students proudly representing their institution. The University of the Free State delegation reminded me that university identity does not have to disappear simply because students are given more freedom.
Perhaps Kenya can find its own balance. Let university students enjoy the freedom that comes with higher education, but give them an opportunity to proudly wear their university identity when they represent their institutions.
The question I would like to leave with Kenyan universities, students and education stakeholders is simple: should university students have complete freedom when it comes to dressing, or should universities create official attire for occasions when students represent their institutions?
As a university student, I would choose a middle ground. I would not want a compulsory daily uniform, but I would proudly wear my university attire when representing my institution. What would you choose?
