A section of Muslim clerics in Mombasa has called for the sacking of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, citing unfairness in President William Ruto’s recent purge of Cabinet Secretaries (CSs). Led by Sheikh Juma Ngao, chairman of the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac), the clerics also decried the dismissal of Attorney General Justin Muturi, labeling it as unjust and demanding his reinstatement.
During a press briefing on Monday, Sheikh Ngao emphasized the perceived inequity in sparing Mudavadi, who holds the Foreign Affairs docket, while dissolving the rest of the Cabinet. “President Ruto dissolved his Cabinet, which is what Kenyans wanted. But he spared the Foreign Affairs CS. Why? It is unfair to the others,” he remarked.
Calls for Accountability and Legal Action
The clerics didn’t stop at Mudavadi. They urged President Ruto to go further by arresting and charging former CSs, including Kithure Kindiki, Mithika Linturi, and Aden Duale, along with former Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, for their alleged misconduct and detrimental actions while in office.
- Kithure Kindiki: Accused of abduction and killing of protesters.
- Aden Duale: Criticized for deploying soldiers in the streets, a role traditionally reserved for the Kenya Police Service, except in cases of declared emergencies.
- Mithika Linturi: Condemned for the distribution of fake fertilizer that adversely affected poor farmers.
- Japheth Koome: Held responsible for police actions leading to the deaths of innocent protesters.
Sheikh Ngao stated, “Former CSs Kithure Kindiki, Mithika Linturi, Aden Duale, and former Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome must now be charged for what they did to Kenyans.”
Demands for Increased Muslim Representation
Kemnac also called for increased Muslim representation in the next Cabinet, advocating for at least five Muslim members, up from the previous two. “Muslims are everywhere in Kenya and from all tribes. We don’t care where the Muslims will come from. There are Muslim Kalenjins, Muslim Luos, Muslim Kikuyus, Muslim Kambas, and they are spread across the country. Pick any from anywhere as long as they are Muslim,” Sheikh Ngao urged.
Lifestyle Audit and Accountability
The council demanded a comprehensive lifestyle audit of all the sacked CSs to determine if their wealth was acquired legally. Kemnac vice chairman Abubakar Amin stressed the importance of this audit, saying, “An audit of their bank accounts must be conducted before and after they were appointed CSs to see whether there is anything fishy about them. They should not be allowed to travel out of the country.”
A Call for Peaceful Protests
Despite the strong demands, Kemnac cautioned Generation Z to maintain peaceful protests. The clerics warned against violence, highlighting the potential for such actions to lead the country down a dangerous path. “Countries have lost their peace through such protests in the past and Kenyan youth should not allow the country to go down that path,” Sheikh Ngao and Amin advised.
The demands and recommendations from Kemnac reflect a broader call for accountability, fairness, and increased representation within the Kenyan government. Whether President Ruto will heed these calls and make further adjustments to his Cabinet remains to be seen.
