Anger over Hijab ban at Kitui Girls’ School

Another school in in the news for discriminating against Muslim students for wearing the hijab.

Muslim community leaders in Kituti County have protested against the decision by school principal of St. Ursula Girls High School Tungutu to deny the students the right to wear the hijab while in school.

According to reports from parents and affected students, Muslim girls at the institution has their headscarves forcefully removed and confiscated by the principal who insisted that it is not part of the school uniform.

Like other schools which have been in the news for denying Muslim students their rights, St Ursula Girls is a public institution with a Catholic Church foundation.

The action by the schools comes barely a month after the Principal Secretary in the education ministry Julius Bitok issued a warning against school violating ministry guidelines on the wearing of hijab.

Sheikh Abdulhalim Ahmed Salim, a respected member of the Muslim community in Kitui, condemned the actions and reminded education authorities that freedom of worship is protected under the Constitution of Kenya.

“It is reprehensible, the school forceful removed the hijab and went on to punish the students for wearing the hijab, which is clearly against the law which emphasizes on freedom of worship,” he said.

Amplifying his voice Sheikh Sidiq Abubakar, a prominent Muslim community leader in Kitui County describe the move as religious discrimination and a violation of constitutional rights. He said five students were subjected to punitive actions forced to remove against their will and punished for adhering to their religious obligations. The conduct violates the conditions of Kenya specifically Article 32 which guarantees the freedom of religion including the right to manifest the religion through dress and practice,” he said while affirming that the right to wear the hijab is not negotiable.

He threatened legal action against the school for infringement on the rights of Muslim students.

The Imam of Noor Mosque Sheikh Muhammad Khatwab urged calm among the faithful as he appealed to the Ministry of Education to intervene in the matter and ensure that the constitutional rights of Muslim students were protected. He emphasized that schools should promote unity, inclusion, and respect for religious diversity rather than discrimination.

Parents expressed deep frustration and disappointment, saying their daughters have suffered humiliation and emotional distress. “Our children are being punished simply for practicing their faith. This is unfair and unacceptable,” one concerned parent said.

The matter has drawn strong reactions from Muslim leaders across Kitui County. He called for immediate intervention to ensure Muslim students are treated with dignity and respect.

Similarly, termed the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.

Attempts by the leaders to seen dialogue with the school administration were not successfully as they were refused entry to the school.

Last week, leaders and parents protested the action of Consolata Primary and Junior School in Likoni to deny students to wear the hijab with the Mombasa Women Representative Zamzam Mohammed calling for immediate intervention by the Ministry of Education to ensure that the rights of Muslim learners are respected.

In an accident which ignited national public discussion on the issue of hijab in school, a student from St Mary’s Lwak High School in Siaya County was forced to leave the school after what she said was persistent harassment from the teachers and catholic nuns stationed at the school for wearing the hijab.

In reaction, the Education issued a statement affirming that no student should be discriminate for practicing his or her faith while at school. “There should be no discrimination whatsoever on matters of religion and faith, and it is very clear,” he said before the national assembly departmental committee on education, where he was questioned about the school’s action.