Makeda Ndinda, the Rastafarian girl who was chased out of Olympic Secondary School by the deputy principal on January 10, 2019 was on Monday ordered back to school by the court of law after her father sued the school for discrimination against her daughter.
The father through his lawyer Shadrack Wambui, argued that wearing dreadlocks was a way of expressing their religion just like other religions do and that the freedom is enshrined in the constitution Article 30(2) and cannot be taken away.
“Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship," reads the article.
The father who was accompanied by other members of the Rastafarian religion explained to the court that the Rasta her daughter wears is an outward expression of her faith and should not be confused with dreadlocks which do not symbolize the faith of Rastafarians.
“There is a difference between Rasta and dreadlocks; while Rasta is an outward symbol of Rastafarians faith and they are decently covered with a turban, dreadlocks do not play the same role and can be “dreadful,” he explained.
He further told the court that Olympic Secondary school rules and regulations, which he presented, only specified a ban on dreadlocks and not Rastas and as such, his daughter was unfairly sent away.
He strengthened his case by quoting several verses from the bible that justify their beliefs of keeping the hair uncut. He specifically quoted the book of Numbers 6: 1-8 where the Bible among many other teachings forbids shaving of hair for Nazarites.
“My Lord as my faith I am not supposed to shave my hair. This is not just my faith, I and my family we shall serve the Lord, it is my responsibility to raise my child as a Rasta,” he read the verse.
He also argued that the girl had before admission filled a form openly indicating that she was a Rastafarian by religion and wondered why the school that had offered her admission finally chased her away.
The school, however, denied discriminating the minor instating that the school rules and regulations must be respected and are applicable to all students in equal measure. The court will deliver judgment on the case on May 5, 2019