The government has banned ethnic groupings in institutions of higher learning to tame radicalisation and foster unity.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission banned clan, religious and tribal-based associations prevent extremist and terrorist activities.
Maseno University Vice Chancellor Prof Julius Nyabundi said varsity heads met President Uhuru Kenyatta and NCIC on Tuesday and were given the directive to ban such groupings.
He said universities were becoming soft targets for radical influences and targets for terrorism.
Prof Nyabundi spoke during the orientation of some 4,000 first year students at the university.
"We met the president and the NCIC on Tuesday and I would like to report that all forms of clan, tribal, religious and all other groupings that lack a national face have been banned in universities," he said.
"It may seem harsh but we are trying to unite the country as part of efforts to fight acts of terrorism and to foster peace ahead of the 2017 General Election."
Prof Nyabundi said institutions of higher learning have become soft targets because they have many influences outside their campus lives such as the internet, social media and membership of groups outside their colleges.
"We urge you to be on the look out for changes in behaviours, characters or personalities of your colleagues and share them with us so that we can investigate and offer counsel where necessary," he said.
He said the deliberations at the meeting identified terrorism as biggest non-conventional threat to security with varsity and college students as the prime targets for radicalization and executors of extremism
Nyabundi said indiscipline would not be tolerated and echoed government directive that no student will be admitted into any other university if they are suspended or expelled from one for disciplinary cases.