Seventeen Form four students at Kabianga Boys High school have been suspended after the Seventh Day Adventist adherents refused to sit for their examination on Sabbath.

In a letter addressed to the parents of the affected students, the school Principal Dr Joash Oloo stated that the students were kicked out of the school for "failing to write an assessment test offered on schedule.”

But the students in a quick rejoinder through their lawyer, Julius Mongare Matonya, gave the school's administration a seven-day ultimatum to unconditionally rescind the decision.

"The constitutional allows freedom of worship. Even the Education Act recognises the fact that each and every student must be allowed a day for worship and it must be respected," he said.

But Dr Oloo argued that they had expected that parents keen on their children's education would have immediately accompanied their sons back to school.

"We notified the parents through SMS. In a situation where we are neither suspending nor expelling a student, we expect the parent to come over to the school so that we can engage," he said.

He reminded the Adventists that there are specific missionary schools for parents who feel aggrieved by the school action.

"The Seventh Day Adventist students don’t do anything on Saturdays from 8am to 6pm. Where then is the problem for them to sit for their examination between 5am and 7:30 am," asked Dr Oloo.

He added, "Why do they want to remain in the dorms sleeping whereas Muslims and Protestants didn't sleep on Friday and Sunday respectively?”

The principal said that they expect students to be rational.

But Matonya argued Dr Oloo off, saying the issue of seventh-day Adventist students was a matter which has been settled in a number of cases in the past culminating in the Civil Appeal No 172 of 2014.