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Muslim Leaders and Parents Storm Consolata School in Mombasa Over Hijab Ban

What Happened at Consolata School Mombasa Today?
In scenes that drew widespread attention across Mombasa, Muslim leaders, elders, and parents descended on Consolata Primary and Junior School on Wednesday morning, disrupting normal learning activities. The protesters accused the school administration of violating the constitutional rights of Muslim female students by enforcing a dress code that bars them from wearing the hijab — the Islamic headscarf regarded as a religious obligation by devout Muslim women.
Community leaders present at the demonstration emphasized that the issue goes beyond a simple uniform dispute. For many Muslim families in Mombasa — a city with a centuries-deep Islamic heritage — the hijab is not a fashion choice but a deeply held religious practice rooted in faith, modesty, and identity. Parents expressed frustration that their daughters are being forced to choose between their education and their religion.

Who Was at the Protest? Key Voices from the Muslim Community
Among those leading the demonstration were local imams, officials from Islamic organizations, and parents of students currently enrolled at the school. The mood was tense but largely peaceful, with community leaders calling on the school administration and the Ministry of Education to urgently intervene.
Protesters drew on arguments that have resonated across Kenya's Muslim community for years. The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has previously stated that banning the hijab is "tantamount to violating the rights of Muslim students." Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa of CIPK has argued that the hijab is rooted in the Islamic faith, and that the Kenyan Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practise their religion freely.
In similar protests across the country, parents have warned that hijab bans lead to Muslim girls dropping out of school altogether — a deeply troubling outcome in a country still working to close gender and religious equity gaps in education.

Consolata School's Position: What Does the School Say?
Consolata School, like many Catholic mission schools in Kenya, operates under a religious charter that places significant authority in the hands of the sponsoring religious body. School administrations in such institutions have historically argued that uniform policies promote discipline, equality, and the ethos of the founding faith — and that parents agree to these terms upon enrollment.

The Catholic Church's position on the matter has been consistent nationally. Fr. Henry Ndune, education secretary of the Mombasa Roman Catholic Archdiocese, has previously stated that asking students to adhere to a school's dress code is not discrimination, but rather "part of holistic education" and a matter of "respecting the other people's ethos." The Archdiocese had not issued a public statement on today's demonstration by the time of publication.
Responses from Relevant Authorities

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok
The Consolata School protest comes just weeks after a near-identical controversy at St. Mary's Lwak Girls High School in Siaya County, where a Grade 10 Muslim student was expelled for wearing a hijab. The case was escalated to Parliament, forcing Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok to act.
Bitok ordered the student's immediate reinstatement, making the government's position crystal clear: "There should be no discrimination whatsoever on matters of religion and faith, and it is very clear. As we speak now, the girl was removed from school, but I will ensure that the girl gets to school immediately."
Muslim leaders at today's Mombasa demonstration are calling on Bitok to issue a similar directive to Consolata Primary and Junior School without delay.

Health CS Aden Duale
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has emerged as one of the most outspoken government voices on the hijab issue in 2026. Responding to the Lwak Girls incident, he issued a stinging condemnation that resonates directly with the Mombasa situation: "I strongly condemn St. Mary's Lwak Girls High School for violating Articles 32 and 37 of our Constitution, which guarantee freedom of worship and expression, including wearing religious attire."

Duale went further, warning school administrators and the Ministry of Education that the government will not tolerate religious discrimination in learning institutions: "Individuals cannot be forced to act against their belief and they cannot be denied access to public service, including education, due to their religious dress." He added: "It's the President who said people should go to school without even uniform for transition purposes. It's the President who said, why would you tell a girl not to wear a hijab? We won't allow that as government."

Protesters at Consolata School on Wednesday cited Duale's remarks as strong backing for their cause, with community leaders demanding the school administration take heed of the CS's words.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM)
SUPKEM's Mombasa Coordinator, Sheikh Mudhar Khaitany, has been a consistent and calm voice for dialogue on the hijab issue at the Coast. Following the 2019 Supreme Court ruling that gave individual schools the power to determine dress codes — a ruling that many Muslims consider deeply unjust — Sheikh Mudhar called for measured but firm action: "This is a national issue with grave consequences. All parties involved should dialogue and find a lasting solution."
He reiterated that the garment is a pillar of the Islamic faith, not a negotiable accessory: "Hijab is not an option for Muslims. Eighty percent of teachers are non-Muslims and we have always cooperated with them as they educate our children." SUPKEM Mombasa secretary Ustadh Ali Alfani echoed this sentiment, urging national unity: "We have other bigger issues to solve as a country. The hijab issue should not divide us."

The Catholic Church's Position
The Catholic Church, as the sponsor of Consolata School, has historically maintained its right to set dress codes aligned with its religious ethos. Rev. Henry Ndune, a Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Mombasa, previously acknowledged the tensions while defending the Church's position: "We have been successful in most of the schools, but there are others where we had to allow the hijab due to the large numbers of Muslim students. We are still pushing to maintain the Catholic Church traditions, ethos and values in the schools we sponsor."

The Archdiocese of Mombasa had not issued a public statement regarding Wednesday's demonstration at the time of publication.
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