Many students in public universities make their own decisions on whether to attend a church service or not but in what it is regarded as Kenya's strict and holiest university, Baraton University, this is not the case.
The Seventh Adventist Church-owned university which is located about 35 kilometres south-west of Eldoret town is a Christian institution which strictly adheres to Bible doctrines.
At Baraton University, students are required to attend church service every single day. On Saturdays which is the Sabbath according to the Seventh Day Adventist, church students attend a church service four times, which is at 7 am, 9 am, 10 am and 12noon, in line with the commandment in the Bible which states, ‘Keep the Sabbath day holy’.
"We attend all church services in accordance with the institutions' rules and regulations," stated Noah, a student at the university.
During admission, every student is given a church card which is usually marked at every service to keep track how regularly they attend church and if anyone misses more than twenty-one church services in a semester it earns him a suspension of up to two years.
"My classmate was suspended for not attending church and some do not even graduate," said Kemboi, an alumnus of Baraton University.
Singoei said meat is not provided on the menu since it contravenes the church's doctrines. He added that all students are also required to do a Christian belief course before completion of their studies.
"I need not graduate on the designated time because I had not done a Christian belief course and had to do it," said Sing'oei, alumni at the university.
According to the students' handbook, marriages are not allowed during the academic year but it can be done upon a special request.
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