Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu was on Wednesday, February 28, hard pressed to answer questions on concerns that Daystar University compels Muslim students to attend chapel services in the institution.
Appearing before the National Assembly plenary for questions, Machogu confirmed that the University has a policy requiring all students, regardless of their religion, to attend at least 75% of all scheduled church services in a semester.
In his submissions, the CS noted that Daystar University had confirmed in writing that the requirement was part of the rules and code of conduct students sign before admission.
“Upon admission, students sign a code of conduct in which they agree to abide by the university’s Christian values and commitment to participate in the university’s spiritual disciplines,” Machogu submitted in response to the question raised by Nyali Member of Parliament Mohamed Ali.
The University, however, denied the allegations that it required students to attend chapel services as a condition to release their marks, according to the submission by Machogu.
In addition, the CS was charged to respond to concerns that Daystar University was promoting LGBTQ by including programs with LGBTQ topics in its curriculum.
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Responding to the questions, Machogu said the university affirmed that it is founded on Biblical values and that it does not condone LGBTQ.
Machogu Reveals Course of Action for Daystar Practices
Announcing his Ministry’s action about the complaints, the Education CS said that he directed the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and the Commission for University Education to conduct an audit on Daystar’s policies.
“I have the directed the PS for Higher Education and CUE to immediately undertake an audit of Daystar’s policies and practices and ensure that collective action is taken to comply with laws of the land,” Machogu announced.
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“Our universities and all institutions of learning have to be safe spaces of learning and for protections of everyone’s rights and freedoms.”
However, Nyali MP Mohamed Ali expressed his dissatisfaction with the response by Daystar University, noting that it was contradictory.
Reacting to Machogu’s submissions, the MP accused Daystar of hiding under its policies to impose religious practices on its students.
However, he agreed with the CS to give the audit team an opportunity to investigate the university’s policies.
“The only option that is there for Daystar University is to make sure that the said policies, this country is protected by the constitution. A Muslim student is at liberty to go to a Christian university, and a Christian student is at liberty to go and get his education from a Muslim university,” Mohamed Ali noted.
