By ISHAQ JUMBE

MOMBASA COUNTY, KENYA: Trustees of the troubled Sakina Mosque in Mombasa now say they have sacked its imam Mohamed Idris.

Sheikh Idris, who is also the chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, was ousted by radical youths from the mosque based in Majengo on November 27 at the start of forceful takeover of mosques.

The wave of ousters, which has spread to Umar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque in Kisauni, has also threatened Liwatoni and other mosques associated with CIPK, and has been linked to  supporters of slain radical islamist Sheikh Aboud Rogo.

Idris and prominent cleric Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa of the CIPK were chased away from Sakina mosque by youths who accused them of links to politicians and imposed their own imam.

Militant islamists

Historically, Sakina was the hotbed of militant islamists since the early 1990s and most of the prominent clerics in Mombasa, including former nominated MP Sheikh Mohamed Dor, cut their radical teeth on its pulpit.

But yesterday, Muslim Association, the trustees of Sakina mosque, announced that a neutral imam will be appointed to replace Idris who has not been seen in public for weeks.

But Idris vowed not to budge alleging that his alleged sacking is illegal and unprocedural.

According to Muslim Association chairman Shaheed Sheikh, Sheikh Idris who has preached at Sakina for decades is “now persona non grata at the institution.”

 The chairman alleged yesterday that Sheikh Idris has been dismissed, adding he will be paid his terminal dues.

He claimed the imam previously resisted attempts to dismiss him with a Sh500,000 terminal package and even filed a case in court.

Yesterday, Idris claimed he has worked for the  mosque for 28 years without pay and announced that the association was offering him Sh90,000 in terminal dues, which he had rejected.

He also claimed that the offer was made when he was ailing.

Alarming statements

Idris also accused the association of trying to employ a new imam without going through the mosque committee, which he said is the right procedure.

“They have no right to elect an imam without the involvement of the committee; they chose not to communicate and just issue alarming statements,” responded Idris when The Standard sought his views in light of the latest development.

“They even admitted recently that the mosque has been under the control of the committee for close to six years while the association was removed from the affairs of the mosque,” Idris said and accused the association of meddling.

But Shaheed Sheikh insisted that Idris was being dismissed for digressing from his role of being an imam and using the pulpit to advance the CIPK agenda.

He is also accused of allowing Sheikh Khalifa, CIPK’s national organisation secretary, unfettered access to the mosque to offer lectures.

“This individual stays in our property and uses all the amenities for free without our permission,” Shaheed Butt, a trustee of the Muslim Association claimed yesterday.