The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya has protested what it terms mistreatment of Muslims by Immigration officials.
The group said men who seek services at the department are forced to remove their headgear, yet it is part of the
Islamic dress code.
"Being forced to remove the headgear is diminishing the religion," CIPK chairman Sheikh Abdhallah Ateka said.
He wrote a protest letter dated November 7 to Immigration PS Gordon Kihalangwa, copied to Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.
The group said Muslims are being discriminated against since other communities do not undergo the same mistreatment.
"Muslims worldwide are identifiable by their dress code. Officers at the Immigration always demand that male Muslims remove their headgear before being photographed," Ateka said.
He said the officers are violating Muslims freedom of religion.
"This action by your officers is unconstitutional. Members of other faiths mostly of the Akorino sect and the Hindu Sikhs are never told to remove their headgear," Ateka said.
He said Muslims are afraid to renew their passports or even getting new ones for fear of this harassment.
The council said it is yet to receive a response from the ministry.
Reached for comment, the PS said he is not aware of such a case.