Outrage as School Abruptly Cancels Graduation

Students who were set to graduate in December 2025 have expressed frustration after their institution, the Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP), abruptly postponed its 19th graduation ceremony.

The institution, in a notice issued on Thursday, November 27, announced that the event had been pushed to early next year, a decision students say was poorly communicated and has thrown their plans into disarray.

“Our 19th Graduation Ceremony, initially scheduled for Monday, 15th December 2025, has been rescheduled to Friday, 23rd January 2026.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Further details & the updated graduation program will be communicated in due course,” the notice reads.

Although the school did not disclose the reason for the sudden change, the announcement, released just two weeks before the ceremony, has sparked widespread anger among graduands, many of whom say the short notice has left them stranded and unsure of what to do next.

Several students noted that they had already paid graduation fees, arranged travel, and organised family celebrations around the original date. They argue that the rescheduling has disrupted their preparations and introduced new financial burdens for them and their families.

Outrage

One of the affected students, Paulo Harmony, directly questioned the school’s leadership, saying, “Hello sir what could have caused the sudden change of the graduation dates? We are really disappointed by that information. At least make it Dec, Jan can never be the best dates. We cannot study, pay for the exams on time then you do us like that.”

Another student, Gideon Kirui, described the decision as demoralizing after the hard work it took to pass exams, saying it was “so sad” to have the milestone pushed further.

Beyond personal inconvenience, some students are demanding clearer communication from the administration. One graduand argued that January graduations are uncommon and questioned whether the school was facing internal challenges such as unpaid graduation fees.

“Have you ever heard of the graduation being set in January? The principal should give a good reason for the changes. Or have the graduates not paid for the graduation fees? Tell us,” Joseph Mwas said.

Others raised concerns about the social implications back home, particularly in rural communities where graduation ceremonies are significant milestones.

“What will I tell my village mates? They will talk about me the whole of December,” Kemmy Dama said, worried about facing gossip and scrutiny throughout the holiday season.

Another graduand, Virginia Wanjiku, urged the institution to reconsider the date entirely and propose an earlier alternative.

Zara Chumba, on her part, noted that the abrupt shift has caused tension at home. “You’ll make my parents think that I’m a liar,” she said.

About Rift Valley National Polytechnic

RVNP is located in Nakuru County and offers over 66 courses in Higher National Diploma, Diploma, Craft, and Artisan programs.

In addition to the full-time courses, the institution offers a wide range of part-time and in-service classes both at its Nakuru City campuses and the main campus.

Established in 1979, RVNP was upgraded to a national polytechnic in 2024. Chief Principal of the institution, Sammy Chemoiwa, said the upgrade had been a long process that had lasted for a better part of two years. 

“We applied to the Executive sometime back in 2023 and we got the approval in the same year. We finally got the legal notice this year, and we have gradually been transitioning to our new status over time,” he said in August 2024.

Chemoiwa added that with the new upgrade, the school would be offering curricula developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and, additionally, those offered by the TVET Curriculum Development Certification Authority (CDCA), in addition to the polytechnic’s curriculum. 

“Our financial support will improve as we will now be getting funding from the National Treasury. We look forward to improving our infrastructure to cater for the expected increase in capacity,” the Chief Principal added. 

RVNP’s management was also transitioned from the board of governors to a council.