Uasin Gishu CIPK chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini. [Photo: hivisasa.com]
The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has condemned recent incidents in which rallies for two major political outfits in the country, Jubilee and National Super Alliance (Nasa), witnessed incidents of heckling and disruptions.
Uasin Gishu CIPK chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini termed the incidents as unfortunate and uncalled for.
Speaking in Eldoret, Thursday, Bini challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga to come out and openly condemn such incidences.
"As religious leaders who love peace and unity for our country, we are so concerned with the recent incidences in political rallies and we fear if we keep quiet they might spread out to other regions subsequently posing a threat to our cohesion," warned Sheikh Bini.
"For this reason we want to urge the two main political competitors, president and Raila, when they meet because we know it will be soon, they should speak in one voice against heckling and disruptions of the rivals rallies," he added.
The CIPK Uasin Gishu chairman further urged Kenyans to exercise political tolerance and allow candidates to campaign anywhere irrespective of their political affiliation.He also advised youths against allowing to be used by selfish politicians to disrupt political rallies.
This comes after NASA rallies in Thika and Kabarnet were disrupted by rowdy youths with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto also being heckled in Kisumu.