A section of Muslim clerics in Mombasa have criticised the Jubilee administration over its treatment of opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Hassan Joho.
Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council members said recent remarks by President Uhuru and Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa against the opposition leaders are inciting.
“We do not support threats started by the President and his followers, when he was in Coast, against Governor Joho to the effect that he will discipline him. We condemn that.
“We also condemn the threatening and inciting remarks by the President while in Kisii, insinuating that Raila sparked the 2007/2008 post election violence,” said council chair Sheikh Juma Ngao.
In the last two weeks, Uhuru has hit out at Joho saying he has been following him around as if he [Uhuru] was his wife and that he will teach the governor a lesson.
On Wednesday, he accused Raila of fanning the chaos that erupted after the disputed 2007 general elections, a claim Raila denied.
On Thursday, Marwa said Joho should stick to Mombasa and not traverse the Coast region to politic.
"If you are in Mombasa, keep your politics in Mombasa. Don’t interfere with Lamu, Kwale and other areas," Marwa said.
But Sheikh Ngao said Kenyans are constitutionally allowed to move to any part of the country.
“Tell Marwa he has no authority to divide Coast people on the basis of counties,” said Sheikh Ngao.
He said it is the duty of police officers to ensure security for all Kenyans wherever they go.
The vocal cleric said Kenya’s history of assassinations show that the religious and political leaders were always eliminated after reckless threats by senior government officials.
He cited Bishop Mugo, Pio Gama Pinto, Father Kaiser, Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, JM Kariuki, Dr Mbai, among others as having been assassinated following threats by public figures.
“We are now seeing fingers have pointed at Joho after the President publicly announced that he will discipline him.
“We, as a council, do not want to see any mysterious death to any of our politicians at the Coast or any other part of the country during this electioneering period,” said Sheikh Ngao.
He said should any mysterious death occur to any politician from the Coast or outside the region, they will blame it on the President Uhuru’s utterances.
Recently, Uhuru, while speaking to Citizen Nipashe denied that he has become angry of late leading to outbursts and threats against leaders.
“Mimi sina hasira hata kidogo. Lakini kunafika wakati lazma useme ukweli wako ... Ukiwa sasa wewe uko na mwelekeo wako, uko na lengo lako, pahali ambapo unataka kufika, lakini mwengine aja na yake ambayo mimi sihusikani nayo, lakini wataka kuja kusumbua yangu na mimi sijasumbua yako ... saa zingine mtu lazima aelezane uwkeli,” the President said.
This loosely translates to: “I do not have anger. But there comes a time you must tell the truth. If you have your focus and goals, where you want to reach, but another person comes with their own goals which I am not party to, but that person still wants to disrupt mine yet I have not disrupted his ... sometimes you must tell the truth.”
On Friday, Sheikh Ngao said: “It is only the other day that he was acquitted by the Hague on matters incitement.”
“Has he forgotten that? Where are you heading to? What picture are you reflecting to this nation? As the head of state, you must unite all Kenyans without threats. Threats will lead to violence during this coming general election. We don’t want it that way,” said Sheikh Ngao.
The clerics said there should be no cases of missing politicians during this electioneering period.