Atheists Call Out Daystar University

The Atheists In Kenya Society (AIKS) has put Daystar University on the spot over what it termed as double standards.

This is after its president, Harrison Mumia, narrated on Wednesday, November 16 how he reached out to the university on behalf of AIKS to engage its students in a debate.

However, he was swiftly turned down by a woman he spoke to on the phone after she learnt of his role in the society. The debate, he said, was to touch on God's existence.

"This morning, on behalf of the Atheists In Kenya Society, I called Daystar University and asked for a discourse with the students on the question of the existence of God. I had hoped that they would be receptive to the idea of students at Daystar engaging with atheists in a debate on the existence of God.

Atheists in Kenya Society (AIKS) president, Harrison Mumia. /THE STAR

"To my surprise, the lady who picked up the phone, upon hearing that I am the President of AIKS, informed me that Daystar University is a Christian University and therefore it will not be possible to have such a discourse with their students. She then rudely hang up the phone," the statement read in part.

Mumia tweeted an excerpt of the conversation with the woman at the institution who told him that "This is a Christian school, that will not be possible. Thank you for calling."

The AIKS president proceeded to accuse the university of double-speak, making reference to Jesus Christ's care for everyone, even prostitutes.

He urged Daystar's administration to open themselves up to conversation and not rely on their own principles to keep them out of engagements with other groups.

"We would like to urge the Daystar University administration to be open to engagements with atheists. We do understand that Daystar University is founded on Christian principles but we want to remind them that Jesus Christ cared for all types of people including prostitutes.

"Daystar University should stop preaching water and drinking wine," Mumia added.

Daystar University is a Christ-centred non-denominational institution of higher learning which exists to equip Christian servant leaders for the transformation of church and society.

Founded in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, as Daystar Publications in 1964, the institution was moved to Kenya in 1971 and registered as Daystar Communications, a non-profit organization in 1973 offering a five-week International Institute for Christian Communication (IICC) course.

In 1976, Daystar Communications started a two-year post-high school diploma programme in Christian Communications, followed by a two-year M.A programme in Christian Communication and Christian Ministries in 1978, in collaboration with Wheaton College in Illinois, USA.

In April 1984, Daystar launched a four-year B.A. degree programmed in collaboration with Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, USA and changed its name to Daystar University College. On September 29, 1994 Daystar was granted a Charter by the Government of Kenya and became Daystar University. 

The university has two branches, its original campus in Nairobi and the main Athi River campus built in 1992 to accommodate the over 1,500 students, both local and international.

The university is known for producing top journalists in the country like Larry Madowo, Johnson Mwakazi, Waihiga Mwaura, Lizz Ntojira and comedian Eric Omondi .

Just like Strathmore, Daystar University has a dress code in line with its Christian principles.

Students graduating from Daystar University. /FILE