Kenyan Students at Harvard Face Uncertainty After U.S. Bars New International Enrollments

Cambridge, USA — Kenyan students currently studying at or preparing to join Harvard University are facing a wave of uncertainty following a controversial decision by the U.S. government to bar the institution from enrolling new international students. The directive, issued on May 23 under the Trump administration, mandates the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

The sweeping order means Harvard must halt all new admissions of international students with immediate effect. Additionally, current foreign students — who make up approximately 27% of the university’s student body, including a significant number from Kenya and the broader East African region — may be compelled to transfer to other SEVP-certified institutions to retain their legal status in the United States.

The U.S. government has claimed unspecified misconduct by Harvard as the basis for the action, though it has yet to publicly provide evidence or details to substantiate the allegation. In response, Harvard has mounted a vigorous legal challenge, filing a lawsuit against the federal government and describing the directive as a “blatant violation” of the U.S. Constitution and international education norms.

“This decision undermines the academic freedoms and international collaboration that have defined our institution for centuries,” Harvard officials said in a statement. “We stand firmly with our international students and will exhaust all legal avenues to protect their rights and academic futures.”

Back in Nairobi, Kenyan education officials are closely monitoring the situation and have reached out to U.S. authorities for clarification on how the decision will impact Kenyan nationals affiliated with the Ivy League school. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is seeking urgent dialogue with the U.S. Embassy to explore possible diplomatic and educational remedies.

“We are deeply concerned about the implications for our students,” said a senior Kenyan education official. “We are in contact with affected families and working to ensure their academic paths are not unjustly disrupted.”

Education advocates and alumni across East Africa have also expressed alarm over the policy, calling it discriminatory and harmful to the global academic community. Social media has seen an outpouring of support for the affected students, with calls for solidarity from local universities and civic leaders.

If the directive remains in place, Kenyan students may face difficult choices — either transferring to alternative institutions, risking visa violations, or deferring their academic pursuits altogether.

The unfolding legal battle is expected to set a precedent for how U.S. academic institutions and their global student populations navigate federal immigration policy in the coming months.