THE government has banned extremist Muslim preachers, particularly foreigners, from preaching in mosques. Mombasa county CID boss Henry Ondiek said accused some preachers of using pulpits in mosques in Majengo, Kisauni, Likoni districts to radicalize youths and sow hatred.
Addressing the media yesterday at police headquarters, Ondiek said detectives are looking for a Tanzanian radical preacher. Sheikh Ramadhan Juma slipped through a police dragnet when officers raided Masjid Musa mosque in Majengo late last year.c”Unconfirmed reports indicate that he had sneaked out of the country. However we are looking for him,” Ondeik said.
According to police sources, Sheikh Juma has been profiled as having links with terrorists after he arrived from Tanzania.
Sheikh Juma is viewed as the successor of Sheikh Ibrahim Ismael who was shot dead last year who took over from Sheikh Aboud Rogo who was shot dead in 2011.
“We have had incidents where preachers across our borders are engaging in violent sermons in mosques. We are on high alert. We will not allow such foreign preachers in our mosques,” he said.
He warned that police would also arrest those found aiding militant preachers. “We commend the peaceful coexistence between the inter-faiths. We want the imams to take full control of their mosques and ensure no foreign preachers are allowed in mosques and madrassas,” said Ondiek.
Police have vowed to enforce the notice barring extremist preaching in Masjid Musa and Sakina mosque in Mombasa.
A special team set up to counter Muslim radicalization has summoned three prominent businessmen accused of funding youths to plot terror attacks.
The alleged financiers include members of the board of trustees at Sakina Mosque in Majengo where radical youths forcefully ejected Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed Idris of the moderate Council of Preachers of Kenya.
“We have summoned and interrogated key suspects supporting and funding radicalization with a view of getting evidence to charge them in court,” said the county CID boss. Six Mombasa youths were last week arrested as they attempted to cross into Somalia through the border in Kiunga.
