Christians must give Muslims a break

There are two groups that Kenyans must be wary of: Politicians and the clergy.

These groups understand Kenyans’ weaknesses and are not averse to using them to their advantage.

The debate over the new constitution has resurfaced with evangelical churches claiming to have lost confidence in the Committee of Experts.

They specifically raised the issue of Kadhi courts, claiming the country is headed for a Sharia-type constitution.

After consulting Christian lawyers and historian to understand the issue of Kadhi courts, I realised the issue is being blown out of proportion.

Kadhi courts have been in place since Independence to take care of Muslims’ interests because their laws on inheritance, marriage and divorce are different.

Many Christian scholars who have come out to allay fears that having Kadhi courts in the constitution will lead to the introduction of Sharia Law.

It appears the evangelical Christian groups are fighting against the Kadhi courts non-inclusion because of two reasons: One, they have stereotyped Islam as a religion of violence and secondly, they want to appease their sponsors in the US.

As a Christian from Coast Province where Islam and Christianity dominate, my experience is that Muslims are humble and humane, although, just like Christians, there are a few extremists.

Let respected Christian clergy dialogue with like-minded Muslim scholars to resolve this issue in a sober manner.

We don’t want another Lebanon or Nigeria in East Africa. Democracy is the rule of the majority with respect to the minority, not the tyranny of the majority over the minority.

It would be suicidal for Muslims to accept the Kadhi courts as a contentious issue to be subjected to a referendum knowing their numerical strength can’t match that of Christians.

{David Charo, Malindi}

The Constitution is not really secular. It is based on Judeo-Christian principles.

Anybody who claims it is secular is being myopic and idealistic. For instance, the whole area of common law, especially family law, is entirely Judeo-Christian.

Even the numbering of the days of the week, including Sunday as a rest day, is based on Christian values. This also includes the structure of our law courts right up to the Court of Appeal.

Our Muslim brothers have only asked for a small portion of their personal law to be included in the constitution, but sections of Christians under the umbrella of the Kenya Christian Constitutional Forum have cried foul.

How unfair and unjust can they get? We know they get their instructions from their sponsors in the US who are renowned for their right-wing fundamentalism and anti-Islamic stance.

These sentiments are alien to majority of Kenyan Christians, so the Committee of Experts would do well to ignore this group of evangelicals and continue with the task of constitution-making.

These Christian leaders should also kindly spare us their disinformation and grandstanding on this matter. Kadhi courts are here to stay.

{John Onyango, Nairobi}