More clerics reject kadhis courts

More Christian leaders have sprung up to oppose the inclusion of kadhis courts in the new draft constitution. They have vowed to mobilise their followers to reject the document in the referendum set for mid this year.

The clerics, under the banner of the Coast Church Leaders Forum, said the establishment of the courts was tantamount to elevating Islam to an official religion in the country.

In a statement read to journalists by Bishop Abarija Kinoga, the leaders blamed the Committee of Experts (CoE) and Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for allegedly failing to give fair treatment to opinions of the “majority” of Kenyans.

The forum accused the CoE and PSC of dictating to Kenyans on the way the law review should be conducted, saying the church will reject their proposed constitution. “They behave as if they are writing the new constitution for themselves,” the clerics said.

“In Tanzania and Zanzibar, where the majority are Muslims, religion and State affairs are separated with Muftis running religious issues that are outside legislations,” said Bishop Kinoga.

The Christian leaders also demanded the constituencies be pegged at 250 so that Kenyans are not overburdened with MPs’ salaries.

However, Christians from north and south Rift, and western parts of the country have softened their stand and agreed with their Muslim counterparts in the regions to have the kadhis courts entrenched in the new law.

A consensus-building meeting in Eldoret Town on Friday, organised by the Inter-Religious Forum, resolved that it was improper for some Christians to threaten to campaign against the draft law if the courts were not dropped.