Rift in Muslim leadership widens

By STANDARD REPORTER

The bitter falling out between Muslim leaders over a proposed meeting to discuss youth radicalisation has intensified with organisers accusing opponents of resisting change and avoiding elections.

Thursday, Chairman of the Association of Muslim Organisations in Kenya (AMOK) Fazul Mohammed—who had convened the meeting said the three-day conference in Naivasha beginning tomorrow will still take place despite strong opposition from some Muslim leaders.

He said the non-participation of Muslim organisations such as Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), Kenya National Muslim Leaders Forum (Namlef) and Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) is not reason enough to warrant cancelling the conference.

 “The problem with Supkem leaders and other Muslim organisations is that they are not ready to take up fresh ideas. They have been in office for very many years without conducting elections,” said Fazul.

“In fact, we have written to the Registrar of Societies to probe such organisations and where applicable compel them to conduct transparent elections. These organisations have failed to provide leadership to the Muslim community,” he added.