Governor warns Muslim youths against attacks

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Jubilee Majority Leader Aden Duale on Sunday warned radicalised Muslim youths and drug addicts against attacking non-Muslims in the name of jihad.

Mr Joho said his government would not allow rowdy youths to persecute people on the basis of their religion.

“On Friday, I will hold a public meeting with elders and religious leaders of Old Town so that they can urge the youths in the area to stop their criminal activities,” he added.

He spoke during a funds drive organised by Al-furqan Trust at the Islamic Centre.

“If they don’t heed my call, we will pursue them from house to house and arrest them,” he said.

The governor told the youths that they cannot declare a fatwa against non-Muslims as this is against the scriptures in the Koran.

On the controversy surrounding the Constituency Development Fund, Mr Joho said even if counties are asked to take over CDF, he would give it back to MPs in his region because they had proved capable of running it.

Mr Duale criticised some youths for using religion to create a wedge between Christians and Muslims.

“Here in Mombasa, Muslim youths are attacking non-Muslims to create the wedge. The same was done in Mandera when terrorists killed Christians and spared Muslims. But they should know this — we will not fall prey to their scheme,” he said.

He said their days were numbered.

Mvita MP Abdullswamad Nassir said Old Town has the highest crime rate in the county and needs to be checked.

The lawmaker added that he would support the police in the fight against the rowdy Muslim youths.