Mombasa, Kenya: Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and hundreds of worshipers yesterday thronged the troubled Musa Mosque after the Jumuri Day celebrations.
The move was aimed at reassuring residents that calm had returned in one of the four mosques raid by police late last month.
Mr Joho held the afternoon prayers in the mosque after leading Jamuhuri Day celebrations where he assured worshipers that the mosques were safe.
Joho and County Commissioner Nelson Marwa told the public that the Government is not targeting Muslims in the on-going crackdown on self-proclaimed jihadists in the county.
Last month, police raided Musa, Sakina, Swafaa and Minaa mosques where they recovered weapons.
The Government closed down the four mosques, albeit temporarily, sparking criticism from Muslim leaders and human rights activists.
The leaders asked the residents to help the Government in the war against terrorism by not allowing criminals to hide in their midst.
"We are urging every resident to reveal these criminal elements so as to make this county safe. The Government has not targeted any religion; we are after criminals," Joho said.
The mosque was full to capacity as officers intensified security in and outside.
Masjid Musa was the scene of bloody confrontation between the police and the youth when the officers staged the raid.
Criminal gangs
Joho told residents that the Government was not targeting any religion in its war against crime but only individual criminals.
He said security had been undermined by criminal gangs adding that Muslims and Christians have lived in harmony for many years. He was flanked by Jomvu MP Badi Twalib.
Mr Marwa announced that more police officers, including the dreaded General Service Unit had been deployed in the county to beef up security ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He assured residents of tight security within public places including beaches that are popular with holidaymakers.
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"We have increased the number of security officers in the county. Let the criminal gangs dare unleash terror," warned Marwa.
The Standard on Saturday yesterday witnessed heavy presence of GSU officers across the county as the Jamhuri Day celebrations were in progress.
"The Government has no plan to interfere with the affairs of mosques or even churches. However, we urge the faithful to be vigilant and report any suspected criminals," Marwa said.
The county boss was happy that Joho and all other elected leaders were now on board in the war against crime.
Marwa asked parents to encourage their sons suspected to be Muslim radicals to own up and surrender.
Emerging gangs
He said it is only through such moves that radicalisation will end and restore investor and tourists confidence.
Marwa said police will work tirelessly to counter emerging gangs that are attacking and robbing residents using pangas and other crude weapons.
Joho condemned invasion of private land in Likoni and Kisauni by violent youths and called for their immediate arrest.
"The deputy county commissioners must take full charge of the situation and stop the invasion of private land in this county. They have a role to protect private property," Joho said.
The coastal crackdown on suspected youths with links to Al-Shabaab led to police storming and closing down of Swafaa mosque on November 20, in Kisauni.
Swafaa's link with extremists was exposed on October 24, this year when radical Islamist youths seized it and forced out moderate imam Sheikh Hassan Juma Rashid who later resigned.
According to police, the raid on Swafaa in the heavily populated Kisauni yielded crude weapons.
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