School in Trans Nzoia Faces Legal Sanctions Over Discrimination Against SDA Students
Accusations of religious discrimination at a school in Trans-Nzoia County have intensified, resulting in legal action against the principal.
The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) community alleges that their students’ religious rights were violated when the school prevented them from practicing their faith on Saturdays.
This led to demands from parents and the SDA church for the principal’s dismissal, citing infringement of constitutional rights.
Kaosa & Company Advocates, representing the affected students, sent a legal letter dated June 5, 2024, to the school.
It detailed incidents on May 25, 2024, where SDA students were reportedly instructed to abandon their religious practices and attend classes instead.
The letter listed 25 students involved in religious activities and highlighted that four student leaders faced disciplinary action for non-compliance.
The advocates argued that the school’s actions violated Article 32 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.
They emphasized that compelling students to attend classes or exams on Saturdays infringed upon this right, citing legal statutes such as the Education Act and Ministry of Education circulars that prohibit religious discrimination.
Kaosa & Company Advocates also stressed the psychological impact on students, alleging intimidation and mental stress arising from the school’s actions.
They warned of legal consequences if the alleged violations continued and called for adherence to constitutional provisions protecting religious freedom.
Meanwhile, the school, affiliated with the Reformed Church, has not publicly responded to these allegations.
The situation prompted Pamela Akelo, County Director of Education for Trans-Nzoia, to intervene. She directed the school to reinstate all suspended students and convened a meeting to resolve the issue.
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The Ministry of Education had previously issued directives on March 4, 2022, addressing violations of religious rights in educational institutions nationwide.
These directives underscored the right to religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and emphasized that no student should face discrimination based on religion.
School in Trans Nzoia Faces Legal Sanctions Over Discrimination Against SDA Students
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