CIPK organising secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa at a past function. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has called upon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to bar politicians who have been making inciting remarks from taking part in August polls. Speaking at Travellers Beach Hotel in Mombasa during a forum organized by the Kenya Film Classification Board, the council’s organizing secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said that the use of abusive language among Kenyan leaders has become rampant, adding that it is unacceptable since the move will divide the country along tribal lines. “Members of (the) public cannot tolerate leaders who are intolerant [and] disrespect and incite Kenyans along tribal lines,” he said, as quoted by the Nation. The cleric also condemned the Migori attack, saying is a sign of barbarism and hooliganism.“The political violence witnessed in Migori County the other day should not be allowed to happen again since it is a threat to the security and stability of the country ahead of the polls,” he said. Sheikh Khalifa also took a swipe at State agencies for failing to show their commitment towards fighting cases of violence in the political arena. He further asked Kenyan voters not to be manipulated by a section of leaders for their own political gain in the forthcoming general polls. “These agencies are failing Kenyans because they are mandated to take legal action against some of these leaders. Kenyans should not be allowed to be used by politicians to fight their neighbours because of political differences,” added the cleric. Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki and Kenya film board CEO Ezekiel Mutua, who were also present at the forum, urged leaders to maintain peace.