Coast leaders call for talks over law

COAST leaders have warned Parliament against passing the Anti-terrorism Bill into law without involving the public. They yesterday said the government should get public opinion before approving the bill. A former commissioner of the Interim Independence Boundaries Review Commission Murshid A Mohamed said the bill should be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure it does not violate human rights. “Even though terrorism is a reality and a threat to security it is important that the bill be amended to be in line with the rights of Kenyans in accordance with the new constitution,’’ he said

Speaking during the launch of Shelali Abdalla’s campaigns for ward representative at Nidhamia Hall in Malindi Mohamed said the call for secession by the Mombasa Republican Council are ridiculous and asked Kenyans not to be carried away by their demands to boycott elections. Maendeleo Ya Wanawake chairperson in charge of Coast region Sureya Roble Hersi said the anti-terror bill will affect all Kenyans if not enacted thoughtfully. She said if the bill is not looked at soberly rights of Kenyans will be violated. “I wonder whether the bill is really out to fight Kenyans or to protect them. The bill seems to be against the constitution and Kenyans will suffer instead of being protected. However, let us not take this as a Muslim thing. All Kenyans will be affected in one way or another,” she said.