Isiolo Woman Rep faults Supreme Court ruling on Hijab

Isiolo County Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa has faulted the ruling by Supreme Court that overturned a ruling by the Court of Appeal allowing Muslim students to wear hijabs in non-Muslim schools.

The 2016 ruling came after St Paul’s Kiwanjani School in Isiolo, which is run by the Methodist Church of Kenya banned female students from wearing the hijab, saying that it sowed discord.

Speaking at Parliament buildings, Jaldesa said the decision is unfair and discriminatory and vowed to pursue other legal channels to ensure that the ruling is quashed.

“We are shocked by the ruling. We are ready to seek for justice even if it means going to the international court” Jaldesa said.

In the ruling, rendered by Justices David Maraga, Mohammed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndungu and Isaac Lenaola. Justice Jackton Ojwang dissented and supported the decision to have Muslim students wear hijabs in non-Muslim schools.

“The Appellate Court, by contrast, was of the view that the concepts of justice, fairness or reasonableness would not only permit, but in fact do require, differential treatment. Such, in my perception, is an eminently rational stand, and is for upholding,” Ojwang said.