Eid Mubarak: Let peace prevail

By NGUMBAO KITHI, ALI ABDI and Correspondents

KENYA: Peace, reconciliation and unity dominated Eid-ul-Fitr festivities countrywide.

Thousands of faithful jammed stadia and mosques, on Friday where they conducted prayers.

In Mombasa, Chief Kadhi Sheikh Sharrif Ali Mohadhar led the celebrations at Ziwani grounds. The prayers were led by an Egyptian Kenyan scholar, Sheikh Mbarak Awes, who advised Muslims to respect the Chief Kadhi and stop giving him directives on what he is supposed to do.

“Muslims in Kenya must know that the Chief Kadhi is the most important office of the faithful,” he said.

He defended the Chief Kadhi for declining to make Thursday the official end of the fasting because he was not able to see the moon.

Some Muslims claimed the Chief Kadhi should have declared Thursday the official Idd ul Fitr.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar asked the Government to push for the nine Kenyans being held in Uganda to be brought back. He also reminded the Government about a Kenyan being held in Guantanamo Bay.

In Isiolo, Governor Godana Doyo and his deputy Mohammed Gulleid joined faithful for prayers and later addressed them.

“Islam teaches us to always embrace brotherhood and unity by rewarding the less fortunate in the society, including our brothers from other faiths,” Doyo said.

The festivities were low-key in Marsabit following violence in Moyale District on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Moyale, residents restricted their movements following clashes between them and the security personnel following an alleged interdiction of a chief accused of harbouring militia.

In Garissa, Governor Nathif Jama Adam and County Commissioner Rashid Khator Harun urged locals to continue volunteering information that would be useful in maintaining security.