By:Betty Luke
A decades-long dispute over the wearing of the hijab in religious-sponsored public schools in Marsabit County has come to an end following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Muslim and Christian religious leaders allowing Muslim learners wear the headscarf.
The agreement marks a significant breakthrough in one of the county’s most contentious education and religious freedom issues, with faith leaders agreeing on a common framework that will see the accommodation implemented through school Boards of Management.
The memorandum provides clear guidelines on how schools will accommodate Muslim learners while promoting respect for the religious identity of all students and preserving harmony within learning institutions.
According to the religious leaders, the agreement demonstrated the space of dialogue and in resolving long standing conflicts within the society.
The discussions, leading to the agreement, were chaired by Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) Chairman Sheikh Abdullahi Salat and attended by senior Christian and Muslim leaders, including Bishop John Warari, Catholic Bishop John Kihara, ACK Bishop Qambicha among other religious representatives from across the County.
The leaders expressed optimism that the understanding reached would prevent future conflicts over religious expression in schools while strengthening peaceful coexistence among the county’s diverse communities.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) described the MoU as a framework that would uphold religious freedoms while promoting peaceful coexistence among learners of different religious beliefs.
The organisation further noted that the agreement reflected shared commitment by both faith communities to resolve differences through dialogue instead of confrontations and blaming.
