Sheikh Juma Ngao the national chairman Kenya National Muslim Advisory Council (Kemnac). PHOTO/COURTESY
By ABDULHAKIM SHERMAN
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
Muslim religious leaders have asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to apologise for “his rantings” against Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
The Kenya National Muslim Advisory Council (Kemnac) chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao, termed President Kenyatta’s threats against Mr Joho that he would teach him a lesson as reckless.
The Muslim leaders also took issue with the presidents accusations against the governor that he was trailing him like “his wife.”
During a function to launch a ferry at Mtongwe, Likoni Constituency on Monday, President Kenyatta accused Mr Joho of trailing him like “his wife” and “chest thumping to appear a hero by attacking the President.”
“They should stop following me. I am not his wife. He should come here and explain what he has done for this country,” an agitated Uhuru told residents of Mtongwe, adding that “he (Joho) should not play with us or we will teach him a lesson.”
Sheikh Ngao said President Kenyatta had lowered his dignity by always threatening his opponents or using abusive language to react to criticism.
“Since the president has threatened to teach Governor Joho a lesson, we want to know what lesson he is going to teach him or are the people who went to Joho’s residence armed with AK 47 rifles part of this lesson,” he said.
And while speaking in Taita Taveta during an ODM rally, Mr Joho sensationally dared the President Kenyatta and the Jubilee government to attempt to take his life, saying that he feared nothing.
Sheikh Ngao said President Kenyatta should apologise to Coast residents for failing to address problems facing the region among them drug abuse and instead talking about Governor Joho every time he visits the region.
The Muslim leader also said the President’s remarks could provoke animosity among different ethnic groups in Mombasa County.
“The president should remember that he escaped from crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the 2007 General Election post-election violence,” Sheikh Ngao said.
The demand for an apology from President Kenyatta by a section of Muslims follows a similar one from 30 Turkana leaders who expressed their disappointment with President Kenyatta who they accuse of belittling them in his outbursts during last week’s visit.
The Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) demanded for an apology from the Head of State for what they termed as “belittling language” he used during a rally in Lodwar town.
The MCAs said they felt insulted by the terms used by the President during the visit.
Difference between President Kenyatta and governor Joho have reached dangerous levels.
During his one-day visit, the President took a swipe on unmentioned people who he accused of peddling falsehoods about his administration saying they were fools and that he would not fear facing them.
Kakuma Ward MCA Patrick Losike said people from different tribes had turned up in Lodwar to receive the President “but they did not expect such language from him.”
“I am fully condemning the insults because we are still hurt unless the President apologises to the people of the county,” said Mr Losike, who is also the Leader of Majority and also eyeing the Turkana West Parliamentary seat.
He said that Turkana County was home to many tribes and deserved respect from the President and that any single vote from the region could decide who the next Head of State would be.
Nominated MCA Selina Lokope said that President Kenyatta should not continue to intimidate ODM governors whenever he visits their counties in search of votes.
The leaders said after the President’s visit, officials from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) have stepped up visits to the region to investigate MCAs and county officials.
