President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the Government was not targeting the Muslim community in the crackdown on criminals engaging in terror activities.
Speaking at the Kakamega State lodge on Friday night, the President said the Jubilee administration was not “at war with the Muslims” but was fighting criminals taking advantage of the religion to engage in terrorism and promote insecurity.
President Kenyatta asked Muslims to support the Government in fighting terrorism and insecurity in the country.
“Muslims are out brothers and we ask them to help identify those engaging in terrorist attacks in the name of the religion,” said the Head of State.
The President, who was accompanied by his Deputy William Ruto, was addressing Muslim leaders from Western and Nyanza at Kakamega State Lodge where he hosted them for Iftar (prayers and breaking of the fast).
“Muslims have nothing to fear as they go about their normal life. What we are fighting are criminals out to cause insecurity and cause disunity in the country,” he said.
He said all Kenyans should be vigilant and report suspected criminals to authorities.
He said the biggest challenge for the Government was uniting Kenyans and ensuring communities from all regions were not marginalised in the distribution of resources.
The President said the Jubilee administration was determined to serve all Kenyans equally irrespective of who they supported in the last year’s polls.
Mr Ruto said Jubilee would not allow leaders to use tribalism, religion and engage in divisive politics to promote their selfish interests.
The Cabinet Secretary for Mining Najib Balala and Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale said the Muslim community support President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto in their efforts to unite Kenyans.
But Mr Duale said Muslims were still being discriminated in the registration and issuance of national identity cards.
Source: Daily Nation