By James Wakahiu
Mount Kenya University
(MKU) has adjusted its weekend examinations programme so as to accommodate
students and staff who worship on Saturdays. Consequently, examinations
scheduled to be held at MKU tomorrow Saturday August 19, 2023 will also be
available next week, the university management has announced.
“The exams will be
available on Wednesday August 23 as scheduled in the time table at the
respective campuses and Open Distance and Electronic Learning (ODEL) centres
for any Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) students who may not be able to sit the
examinations as currently scheduled,” Dr Ronald G Maathai, the university’s
Registrar for Academic Administration, says in a statement.
However, for non-SDA
students, the exams scheduled for tomorrow will take place as per the time
table, he added. SDA church members believe that Saturday is their holy day for
worship and rest.
The move follows
protests earlier in the week by students at the institution’s Kisii Campus, who
initiated an online petition to prevent the college from conducting exams on
Saturdays.
The petition asserts
that MKU had disregarded appeals from SDA students who, due to their religious
beliefs, cannot sit for exams held on Saturdays.
“Any exams held on
Sabbath practically exclude us from participating.” the students stated.
The students also
lodged a petition with the Commission for University Education (CUE), urging
them to ensure the campus’s adherence to the statutory and regulatory
requirements outlined in the Universities Act of 2012.
According to the Act,
universities must follow inclusivity guidelines that prevent discrimination
against students based on their religious beliefs.
“This matter requires
immediate attention to upholding equality and the constitutional right to
worship pursuant to Article 32 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010,”
part of the petition states.
“As practicing
SDAs, Saturdays are dedicated to our religious observance. Conducting exams on
this day effectively bars our participation,” said the candidates.
The students
elaborated that they faced disenfranchisement and unequal competition with
peers who did not observe Saturday worship services, affecting their academic
performance. More than 1,000 students have lent their support to the petition.
