A Kenyan content creator’s candid moment outside Strathmore University has sparked a lively debate online after he was told to take out his earrings before setting foot on campus.
Victor Karanja, who describes himself as a home and lifestyle creator on TikTok, filmed a selfie-style video inside a parked car just before heading into the university. The on-screen caption read:
“POV: you were told to remove earrings in Strathmore,” and his tone throughout was reflective rather than confrontational.
What made the video particularly relatable was his acknowledgement that the request caught him off guard.
“It’s funny how I’ve walked in different companies and NGOs, and there’s no one time I’ve been told to remove my earrings,” he said, visibly amused by the irony.
Rather than pushing back, Karanja said he had made a personal commitment to himself before enrolling in the programme.
“I promised myself that I wouldn’t let my ego get in the way of my success because there are a lot of things I need to learn before I start the next project that I want to,” he explained.
He added that if succeeding meant getting out of his own way, he was willing to do exactly that.
With that, he removed the earrings, signed off with “let’s do this,” and headed inside.
@victor_peace Had to remove my earrings for the first time in many years #dresscode #backtoschool #strathmoreuniversity #kenyantiktok🇰🇪 #fyp ♬ Heartsease – Miles
The clip quickly drew reactions from Kenyans who had plenty to say about university dress code enforcement:
@USIU-AFRICA:
“We would never!”
@Kiiru:
“Lol they genuinely need to grow up with these rules”
@Gigi:
“Walikataa kuniemploy coz I wasn’t married”
@TEAM NAIROBI RELOADED:
“Private universities are just high schools for adults”
@Godfather:
“Their institution, their rules.”
@Irene Shahmz:
“The earrings prevent you from listening.”
The responses captured a clear split between those who respect institutional standards and those who feel such policies belong to a different era.
Strathmore University, a private institution in Nairobi known for its professional culture, has long maintained a conservative environment compared to public universities
