Muslim leaders in bid to close ranks and present one vote bloc

• Political observers say group has the swing vote in the presidential race

Muslim leaders are calling for unity among the faithful as they forge a plan to chart their political course ahead of the General Election.

But fears have emerged that the current differences among the leadership could cost them the political gains to be made in the next administration.

The Kenya Muslim National Advisory Commission (Kemnac) is planning to bring together Muslim leaders from all tribes to a national convention on a yet-to-be determined date to discuss political, economic and social issues affecting Muslims before making what they term a “major announcement” on their political course.

“There are over 300 Muslim organisations in the country, there so many Muslims in Nyanza and Western Kenya as there is in Coast and North Eastern regions. We are organising a national convention that would bring together Muslim elders from all the 43 tribes in the country and Muslim organisations’ leaders to chart the political course for the community,” said Kemnac national chairman, Sheikh Juma Ngao.

Sheikh Ngao said Kemnac would also reach out to Christian organisations in a bid to foster unity ahead of the elections.

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has in the past been instrumental in determining the political course of the faithful, though other organisation such as the Supreme Council of Muslims in Kenya (Supkem) have accused it of lacking inclusivity.

“The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) have been claiming to be speaking on behalf of the entire Muslim community, cutting deals with political parties, which led to the nomination of Sheikh Mohamed Dor by ODM. But, this time round, we want all groups to be consulted,” Sheikh Ngao said. 

Political observers say that though Muslims are not expected to form a monolithic voting bloc theirs remains a swing vote for any candidate’s ascendancy to the presidency.

“The master key to the presidency in the next election might lie in combining a greater share of the Muslim votes with the traditional vote-banks given that there is no serious presidential candidate in the regions densely populated by the (Muslim) community.

“Though we cannot guarantee a homogeneous voting pattern in these areas, if a candidate crafts an agenda and unite it under a common purpose then he or she would have a head start,” said Prof Hamad Mboga.

Prof Mboga said so far no presidential candidate has come up with an agenda that directly targets Muslims.

Western, Coast and North Eastern regions have remained vote-hunting areas for presidential candidates in multiparty elections.

Nyanza is considered Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s political bedrock and central Kenya the stronghold of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. Eldoret North MP William Ruto is believed to control the major part of the Rift Valley while Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has the support of Eastern.

In efforts to influence Muslim voters, who form a sizeable chunk of the electorate in Coast and North Eastern regions, political parties, in the run up to the elections, make forays into the regions complete with religious dress and mien.

Other than Mr Ruto who has announced that he would appoint Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere, a Muslim, as his running mate, other presidential aspirants are keeping their cards close to their chests with regard to how they would handle the Muslim electorate.  

Nerve centre

“ODM still remains the party to beat in Mombasa county, which is the country’s nerve centre of Islam. But one feels there is actually a political disorder due to threats by some of the party’s point men to jump ship. It is likely that a good number of the Muslim votes in the region would follow (Tourism minister Najib) Balala wherever he may go,” said Mombasa-based lawyer Abubakar Yusuf.

In the run up to the 2007 General Election various political parties galvanised Muslims, publicly and privately striking deals, but ODM got the lion’s share of their support.