The Kenya Methodists University (KeMU) stirred controversy after its Dean of Students Esther Mbaabu in a memo dated January 5, 2023, set out a new dress code.
“The dean of Students wishes to encourage all students to adopt a style of dressing and appearance that would be acceptable in various fields of work and society in general,” the memo read.
The memo contained a list of what is considered inappropriate dressing at the institution during the study, for mealtime, or any other university function.
For instance, the institution has prohibited its female students from wearing crop tops that expose their belly and naval as well as clothes that expose their backs.
Others are miniskirts above the knee line and skirts with slits above the knee line.
Additionally, students’ dresses and blouses should not have necklines running down more than 4 inches and they should not wear body-tight trousers and see-through clothes.
They have further prohibited male students from showing up in rasta/dreadlocks or plaited hair and instead asked them to have well-groomed hair.
They cannot wear vests that show bare chests or hats/caps in class or offices and should not have untucked shirts or earrings.
