This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On September 13, 2019, the High Court in Kenya made a landmark ruling in favor of a student who was expelled from Olympic High School for keeping dreadlocks.
The court, led by Justice Enoch Chacha Mwita, declared that the school's decision to expel the student was a violation of her rights to education and religion.
The student, a Rastafarian, had been admitted to the school in Form One but was sent home after the school administration discovered her dreadlocks.
According to the court, the school's actions were discriminatory and denied the student her right to education and religion.
Justice Mwita pointed out that the Constitution does not define what religion is, but the dictionary does, and Rastafarianism is a recognized religion.
He also noted that the school's rules should not appear to be superior to the Constitution and that forcing the student to cut her hair was intrusive to her religion.
The court issued an order barring Olympic High School from interfering with the student over her dreadlocks.
