Prominent cleric shot dead in Garissa

GARISSA, KENYA: A prominent Muslim religious leader was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Garissa town on Sunday night just 24 hours, after one person was killed and three others seriously injured.

Garissa County Police Commander Charles Kinyua said Sheikh Abdirashi was shot several times at close range by people armed with guns just a few metres from Klalifa Mosque near Garissa General Hospital where he went for evening  prayers (Isha).

He said the identity of the killers is not yet known. However, he ruled out the hands of the Islamist Somalia militia group, Al-Shabaab which has been blamed for previous killings in the town.

"Although the incident just happened last night (8.45 pm) and our officers, led by my OCPD, are still doing more investigations, the circumstance at which the religious leader was gunned down by his attackers is different from the usual Al-Shabaab attacks which usually targets crowded places," he added.

"It is too early to speculate about the motive of the killing. The circumstances tell us the assailants had a grudge with the deceased," he said.

He said they are investigating possible rivalry the deceased might have had with some of his colleagues opposed to him preaching in some mosques.

According to sources, the sheikh survived a previous similar attack when he was ambushed at a local hotel.