Christian, Muslim clerics hold talks on insecurity

 Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa (middle, with microphone) and a section of Muslim and Christian Leaders unite in a memorial for the Likoni church terror attack victims.  Christian and Muslim clerics in Mombasa continue to hold meetings to discuss rising insecurity in the region. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED / STANDARD]

By TOBIAS CHANJI and KEVIN KARANI

Mombasa, Kenya: Muslim and Christian leaders in Kwale and Mombasa have said a massive intelligence failure and lack of investment in modern surveillance technology has contributed greatly to the rise of terrorism in Kenya.

Speaking on Sunday when they held a meeting in Mombasa county, the clergymen lead by Kenya National Muslim Advisory Council (KEMNAC) Chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao and International Fellowship for Christ Chairman Emmanuel Karisa, the clergymen said the Government should rely on the National Intelligence Services (NIS) to capture terrorists.

They said introduction of new technology and specialised equipment can help the intelligence service to act on accurate information instead of the current security sweeps without proper supporting evidence.

GUARD BORDERS

But, speaking to The Standard in Diani yesterday, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK)Chairman for South Coast Sheikh Hamis Banda and his secretary Swaleh Gang’ombe said the Government ought to guard its national borders instead of arresting and harassing innocent Kenyans.

“It is really disheartening to see police arrest people whether they have national IDs or not and then dump them in a field. In the long run, this will only serve to breed hatred along religious lines,” Banda said.

The two said the operation violates the constitutionally enshrined freedom of worship. They said the Government’s security apparatus ought to rely on security intelligence instead of arresting people based on tribe and religion.

“If the arrests continue, we will soon have people who have been ‘internally victimised’ by their own Government,” Swaleh said.

POLITICISED ISSUE

The clerics also lamented that the fight against terrorism has been politicised after members of Parliament allied to the Jubilee coalition told off National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale over his recent remarks that he may withdraw support for the coalition over what he termed as arbitrary arrest of his people.

“Kenya belongs to everyone and Duale has a right to say what he said.Those attacking him are only politicising the matter,” Banda said.

He called for good working relations between all arms of government including the provincial administration and police.

“We should also insist on the Nyumba Kumi concept so that suspicious characters are not given a chance to commit crimes,” he told TheStandard.

Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah yesterday said allegations of discrimination against Muslims are unfounded. He said the police are only arresting criminals.

“Anybody who is in our custody has been arrested because they are criminals. Nobody is being targeted neither are we basing our arrests on religious grounds. A criminal is a criminal whether Christian or Muslim,” Omijah said.

The OCPD also disclosed that the recent operation dubbed Fagia Diani has been stopped to enable them map out an alternate course of action.

He was however noncommittal when asked if police have achieved their objective of nailing terror suspects.