University of Nairobi elects first Muslim UNSA President

Ahmed Rashid Burrow, a third-year law student, has been elected President of the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) for the 2026/2027 academic year. He succeeds Derrick Troy Rusana Odhiambo, who served during the 2025/2026 term.

Burrow’s victory is a historic milestone for the University as he becomes the first Muslim student to be elected UNSA President in the institution’s 56-year history. His election further strengthens the institution’s reputation as a hub for transformative leadership and reflects the evolving landscape of student leadership at Kenya’s premier institution of higher learning.

The newly elected President will lead the student executive council alongside seven elected representatives drawn from various faculties and academic programmes across the university.

In his inaugural address, the UNSA President described his election as the beginning of a new chapter founded on collective responsibility, accountability, and inclusive leadership. He emphasized that his administration would prioritize dialogue, justice, and shared engagement rather than individual-centered leadership.

“Leadership is never about one person, but the collective effort of everyone in the university,” he said. He further pledged that his administration would remain accessible and committed to improving student welfare and enhancing the overall university experience.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ayub Gitau congratulated the newly elected student leaders and called for a collaborative approach to leadership. He also cautioned them against negative political influence.

“As student leaders, you now carry the responsibility of representing the voices, ideas, concerns, and aspirations of your fellow students. Leadership must rise above personal interests, division, and short-term popularity. It must be anchored in service, integrity, accountability, and commitment to the collective good,” he said.

“I encourage you to embrace servant leadership — leadership that listens, unites, builds trust, and seeks solutions,” he added.

The Chairperson of the UNSA Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Collins Odote, described the 2026 elections as the culmination of a process grounded in constitutional compliance and institutional accountability. He noted that the elections experienced a two-month delay following conservatory orders issued by the High Court in response to election petitions.