By John Njenga
Muslim preachers have called on politicians to stop polarizing the country by issuing statements that incite Kenyans against each other.
Speaking in Mombasa, Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Organizing Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa warned that the country might experience another round of post-election violence similar to what happened in 2013 unless the politicians tame their tongues.
The cleric said politicians are dividing Kenyans along tribal lines as they seek power through all means.
“As Muslim religious leaders, we are calling on politicians eyeing various seats in the August elections to show sobriety. We are also asking Kenyans not to run away from the fact that life will continue even after the polls. It is not a matter of life and death,” Sheikh Khalifa said.
The CIPK leader also called on those competing for the Presidency to stop reminding Kenyans about what happened in the 2013 post-election violence saying that this would only re-open healing wounds.
He said some Kenyans are still recovering from what they went through during that painful period and do not want a repeat of a similar scenario this year.
Sheikh Khalifa made the remarks only a few days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga exchanged barbs over who was responsible for the post-election violence that left more than 1000 Kenyans dead.
“We are worried that politicians have gone over-drive making remarks that fulfill their selfish ends but incite Kenyans. We are asking Kenyans to ignore them and urging the relevant constitutionally mandated bodies to deal with all cases of hate speech expeditiously,” he said. He said the agencies charged with taming hate speech and other unwanted remarks and actions should be on high alert
He also said politicians and their supporters are increasingly becoming blasphemous, a trend that might invite the wrath of God.
He said political talk is laced with inciteful messages that could plunge the country into violence.
“Politicians are branding themselves religious and human rights defenders and telling people how they have been oppressed for a long time,” cialis generique said Sheikh Khalifa.
He averred that politicians have influenced their supporters to blame their opponents for natural calamities like drought.
“They are saying if it was not for so and so, this drought would not be here. Drought is the work of God. That is blasphemous,” Khalifa said.
The cleric was with CIPK treasurer Sheikh Hassan Omar and coordinator Sheikh Fowzy Twaha.
