From: People For Peace

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ

NAIROBI-KENYA

The fact that the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims in North Eastern Province has banned DStv affirms the allegations by some church leaders claiming that the mention of Islam in the Constitution was a crafty agenda to introduce Sharia law in the country.

The Supkem Mandera branch has not only banned the DStv but also outlawed video dens, blaming them for eroding moral values among the youth and causing poor academic performance. The Supkem also shut down dozens of entertainment spots that air popular video shows and football, “in support of Islamic teachings.”

Even though Information minister Mr Samuel Phogisio criticised the move by the Sheikhs, saying Kenyans subscribe to the service mainly because of the local and international football games broadcast by the station, adding that the ban was a violation of such rights, the fear still remains that when the constitution will be voted ‘Yes’ Muslims may also use it to persecute non Muslims.

In 2007 prior to presidential elections some church leaders had also expressed similar fear when Raila Odinga signed MoU with Muslim leaders, arguing that in doing so he was giving them an ok to introduce Shari’a law if elected.

When the radical Palestinian group was implicated in the bombing of the Jewish owned Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi on New Year’s Eve in1981, some Kenyans had also expressed similar fear that Kenya had already been considered as a soft target by international terrorism experts, but little attention was given.

Even when Fazul Abdullah Mohammed was indicted for planning the 1998 embassy bombings, the Paradise Hotel in Kikambala near Mombasa and the attempt on the Israeli Arkia airliner in 2002 similar fear was expressed, yet no attention was taken.

When in early 2004 the Kenya Anti-Terrorist Police, trained and financed by the United States, were raiding mosques on a tip-off, detaining suspected terrorists all along the Swahili coast the government did not take any action despite the fact that Fazul Abdullah Mohammed warned in time.

The fact that Muslims community in Kenya has not only vowed to fight to the last man standing following what they term as discrimination by the government following an arrest and deportation of Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah Al-Fasal, are just some early warning signals that Muslims are determined to force their agenda even if the government likes it or not.

Even though Al-Faisal is considered one of the most dangerous persons in the world he was in the country on the invitation of Muslims in Nairobi and Mombasa and had been scheduled to visit various mosques and hold radio shows. Following the arrest the irate Muslims held protest demos in major streets of Kenya capital Nairobi after Jumaa prayers at Jamia Mosque early this year.

This was at the same time the internet had produced a mysterious statement, purporting to come from al-Qaeda, a message, signed by “the Political Office of Qaeda al-Jihad” appeared to claim responsibility for the Kenyan attacks previous week.

It is against the background that Fr. Wilybard K. Lagho who seats in the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue as consoltor and in the Kenya Episcopal Conference Ecumenical Commission, Nairobi argues that with entrenchment of Kadhi’s courts Muslim leaders in Kenya need also to safeguard the true Islamic faith from being hijacked by some Saudi Arabia sponsored puritanical Muslims who appear to be advancing sectarian agendas in the name of Islam in Kenya.

Some Mosques in Kenya today like in many parts of the world he argues have become channels for perpetuating hatred against the so called “enemies of Islam”, which includes all people outside a specific Islamic sectarian group, Muslims and Christians alike.

That is why Muslims have yet to demonstrate to Kenyans how exclusion of the Kadhi’s Courts from the new constitution will affect their faith- if not meant for attacking other religious faiths or use it to make their own laws and parallel government.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

E-Mail news@ppa.or.ke
Tel 254-20-4441372
Website : www.ppa.or.ke