Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has issued a stern warning to school heads sending students home over donning religious attire.
Speaking in Nandi County on Saturday, July 30, Magoha called for learning institutions to be accommodative of students' religious beliefs regardless of the school's foundation.
He explained that he had received reports that a section of learners was being forced to abandon their religious dress code to comply with school regulations.
"I am informed that there are a few schools that are harassing children because of the manner they dress and sometimes discriminate against them.
"No student should be removed from school because of wearing a headgear, whether it is a Muslim Hijab, a Christian Sisters' attire or an Akorino turban," Magoha reiterated.
He stated that a violation of a circular sent by Principal Secretary Dr Julius Jwan would be akin to defying President Uhuru Kenyatta since the directive came from him.
"Can we agree that the circular issued by the PS on my instructions must be obeyed? Those instructions came from the president and are therefore policy order," reiterated the Education boss.
Magoha vowed that stern measures would be taken against school heads who will detour from the directive, especially during the admission of the first class into junior secondary schools.
While inspecting the progress of construction of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) classes at Namgoi Mixed Day Secondary School, he assured that all classrooms would be completed before the end of his term.
He also asked private schools to set up stand-alone junior secondary schools to avoid congestion in their institutions ahead of the Grade 7 admission.
Magoha's directive came barely days after he issued an apology to a journalist at NTV and the Muslim community over insensitive remarks he made during a press conference.
The CS expressed regret to the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) in the presence of Directorate of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji .
