When Faith Meets the Uniform: The Hijab Dispute Gripping Siaya

A school in Siaya County has come under scrutiny after allegations that it barred a Muslim student from wearing a hijab, reigniting national debate over religious freedom in public schools.

Parents accuse St. Mary’s Lwak Girls High School of preventing 15-year-old Grade 10 student Samira Ramadhan from wearing her hijab, despite earlier assurances.

Samira joined the school full of excitement and hope, eager to begin a new chapter in her academic journey. Just weeks into term, the administration told her to remove her hijab, contradicting the promises made to her family.

A school official told her that the Catholic-sponsored institution does not permit hijabs. Since then, she alleges that staff members have harassed and excluded her because of her faith.

Her father, Nasib Ali Ramadhan, says the school isolated his daughter and ignored his repeated requests for clarification. He visited the school and sought answers, but his concerns were not addressed. Frustrated by the school’s silence, he withdrew his daughter after paying the term’s fees and sought a Muslim-friendly school.

Local Muslim leaders, including officials from the Siaya Muslims Association, have condemned the alleged restriction. Moreover, they argue that some non-Muslim schools prohibit hijabs and force students to join religious activities outside their own faith.

School officials and the County Director of Education did not respond to media inquiries, leaving the matter unresolved.

Samira’s case reflects nationwide complaints, especially in faith-based schools where dress codes often conflict with students’ religious practices and freedoms. The controversy has sparked debate on balancing school traditions with constitutional religious freedoms, especially under Kenya’s centralized placement system with limited transfers.

Furthermore, in 2019, the Supreme Court of Kenya overturned a 2016 Court of Appeal decision allowing Muslim students to wear hijabs. The court affirmed that individual schools have the authority to determine and enforce their own dress codes.

Consequently, Samira’s case underscores the continuing challenge of balancing school identity with students’ constitutional rights to freely practice their religion.