PRESS STATEMENT:

BY COAST INTER-FAITH COUNCIL OF CLERICS TRUST

We the leaders of Hindu, Christian and Muslim fraternities, under the auspices of the Coast Inter-faith Council of Clerics, together with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) having met on this date of 30th August 2012, to deliberate on the violence that erupted this week after the killing of Sheik Aboud Rogo herby resolve as follows:

1. We condemn the brutal murder of the Islamic Cleric Sheik Aboud Rogo on August 27th and the subsequent killings of at least six people since his burial.
2. We condemn the attacks carried out by supporters of the late Sheikh Rogo and others who took advantage of the chaos to loot and destroy property in business premises.
3. We condemn in the strongest terms possible attacks carried out against churches by the supporters of Sheikh Rogo.
4. We believe this is not a religious conflict. Nevertheless we ask Muslim Clerics to use Friday Prayers to preach peace and to call off all demonstrations purportedly planned for Friday 31st August, or any other day. Likewise we encourage Christian leaders to restrain their faithful from engaging in retaliatory attacks or any other acts that may lead to rising tension. We exhort all residents of Mombasa, especially Muslims and Christians to practice religious tolerance.
5. We also advise FM radio stations to exercise due diligence in reporting incidents and to ensure that they are not responsible for incitement caused by reckless publication of sensational material.
6. We demand that the government performs its sworn duty to its citizens by ensuring the killers of Sheikh Aboud Rogo are quickly brought to justice. We further demand that those who participated in the subsequent attacks on churches, security personnel and business premises are quickly arrested, prosecuted and punished.
7. Finally, we wish to express our concern at the continued failure and neglect by the government’s security agencies to take pre-emptive action to ensure security and safety of its citizens. The government needs to come out strongly to assure the people of their security and safety. We request that the results of the investigation are made public as soon as they are completed.

SIGNED BY:

FR. WILYBARD LAGHO,

CHAIR-COAST INTER-FAITH COUNCIL OF CLERICS TRUST

BISHOP LAWRENCE DENA,

CHAIR-NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF KENYA (COAST)

SHEIKH MUHDHAR KHITAMY,

CHAIR-SUPREME COUNCIL OF KENYA MUSLIMS (COAST)

SHEIKH ADAN WACHU,

CHAIR- INTER RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF KENYA

KISHORE SHAH,

TRUSTEE-HINDU COUNCIL OF KENYA

DR. AHMED YASSIN,

COMMISSIONER- NATIONAL COHESION AND INTEGRATION COMMISSION