Sifuna arrived with a delegation after student leaders invited him to the inaugural Law, Policy and Governance Forum, but university administrators shut the gate, citing concerns over unrest or scheduling.
He spoke to journalists outside about an atmosphere of fear where people lose jobs for associating with opposition figures, and urged students to reclaim the country.
The incident drew mixed reactions, with some seeing it as government panic before 2027 elections and others insisting on following university procedures; Sifuna later held a private meeting with management.