Following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to extend the term of the BBI task force, mixed reactions have kept emerging across the country.
On Sunday evening, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) issued a press statement and pleaded with the president to rethink his decision of extending the BBI task force term.
A section of Muslim elders in Garissa town has however dismissed SUPKEM’S stand terming it personal opinions that don’t represent the views of Muslims.
“We respect SUPKEM and its leadership but on matters BBI, we beg to differ. Everybody has seen the need of BBI and majority of Muslims do not have a problem with the president’s directive, even the chairman of the taskforce is our very own experienced elder Yusuf Haji, so I think those were just personal opinions and I cannot associate myself with them,” said Mohamed Deco, a Garissa businessman.
Speaking to KTN news in Garissa on Monday afternoon, the elders demanded that SUPKEM must withdraw that statement and term it as their own personal opinion but not Muslims’ point of view.
“They were too fast to issue the sentiments, they ought to have consulted Muslim stakeholders across the country first, that shows how disorganized SUPKEM’s leadership is: in fact, that is a show of disrespect to the president and to the chairman of the taskforce Yusuf Haji," noted Hassan Abdi, a Garissa elder.
The elders maintained that they are fully supporting the president’s decision to extend the term of the BBI task force.
Their arguments come just a day after the Anglican Church of Kenya's head Bishop Jackson https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001353288/sapit-wants-fresh-team-to-steer-bbihttps://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001353288/sapit-wants-fresh-team-to-steer-bbi in office.