Mike Jacobs, the former University of Nairobi (UoN) student leader who famously clashed with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino during the 2016 SONU elections, has finally graduated. The milestone came during UoN’s 73rd graduation ceremony held on Friday, September 19, where Jacobs received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Psychology.
Sharing the achievement on his social media pages, Jacobs declared, “History is rewritten.” His post quickly attracted widespread congratulatory messages from peers and supporters who followed his long, dramatic journey at the institution.
Why was Mike Jacobs suspended from UoN?
The conflict dates back to 2016, when UoN’s student elections turned chaotic after Babu Owino was declared the winner. Jacobs’ camp contested the results, sparking unrest that escalated into three days of protests. The university was eventually closed for over two weeks, and Jacobs was arrested on allegations of torching SONU offices. Though the ODPP later dropped the charges, the incident led to the suspension of 137 students.
The UoN senate expelled 33 students, suspended 25 for up to three years, and issued warnings to 143 others. Jacobs himself was handed a 10-year suspension on April 22, 2016, though this was later reduced to seven years following a legal challenge in court.
Beyond academics, Jacobs is an entrepreneur, running a general supplies company he founded in 2014 as well as a clothing brand specializing in tailor-made men’s suits. He has also expressed ambitions to venture into politics, specifically eyeing the Gem parliamentary seat in the future.
Recently, Jacobs revealed plans to sue lawyer Miguna Miguna over emotional distress caused by false claims that he had been killed. Miguna’s posts, which alleged Babu Owino’s involvement in Jacobs’s supposed murder, sparked outrage and prompted legal threats. Describing the allegations as bizarre and damaging, Jacobs vowed to seek justice in court.
By Risper Akinyi