Nairobi — A private school in North Eastern Province has been closed over disagreements on prayers by Muslim students.

The Muslim students have, for the last two weeks, been embroiled in a row with the school management over whether they should conduct prayers in the compound of OMC Secondary School in Moyale District.

They first boycotted classes after they were allegedly barred from conducting prayers in the compound.

Behind classes

This was after the principal, Mr Charles Ndung'u, allegedly found some of the students conducting prayers behind the classrooms during the evening preps.

He is said to have summoned the school prefects and suspended them for failing to report to the authorities that prayers were being conducted in the compound.

Yesterday, Moyale district commissioner Victor Okioma called a meeting to resolve the crisis.

The local community, which is predominantly Muslim, had threatened to destroy the school, compelling the administrator to intervene.

Mr Okioma appealed to the community to remain calm as a solution was sought.

Acting district education officer Roba Sereka visited the school and held discussions with the principal before ordering the students to resume classes unconditionally.

He said the students had a constitutional right to worship adding that the school did not have the right to stop them from conducting prayers.

Scare sponsors

After their return, the school's proprietor, Mr Lee Wonchoel, sent them home, saying they should stay away until the controversy was resolved.

Mr Wonchoel argued that since the school was sponsored by missionaries from South Korea, no other religion should be practised except Christianity.

He said the sponsors would be scared if he allowed any other faith in the school.