The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has faulted Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua over his advocacy on the one- man- one shilling. The clerics said the raging debate was not beneficial to the citizenry and posed the risk of dividing Kenyans into tribal and regional lines if not tamed.
“We would like to urge the Deputy President that his office is for the service of all Kenyans, not a certain region or one tribe only. He was elected by all Kenyans,” said the CIPK Organizing Secretary Mohamed Khalifa in Mombasa.
Khalifa added that the responsibility given to the DP by the Constitution compels him to serve all Kenyans and to resolve challenges facing the country like construction of schools, bridges and roads that were affected by floods.
“The clamour for One- Man- One- shilling is not in the Constitution and is equally divisive,” said Khalifa, while questioning the deafening silence of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), even as leaders continued sow seed of discord among Kenyans.
However, the clerics want the DP to sustain the war on illicit liquor and drugs abuse. They also called on the DP to champion the unity of all Kenyans instead of a certain region. “We have lived as brothers in Kenya. We should not be divided,” said Khalifa, urging Gachagua to quell the rising political temperatures.
“You should be at the forefront uniting leaders. Kenyans have a lot on their table in these harsh economic times. We should be engaging in national building activities,” they noted. On his part, CIPK Chairman Abdalla Ateka said the DP is a leader of all Kenyans, but they are appalled by his recent style of politics that may derail all the gains made since the promulgation of the 2010 constitution and make Kenyans hate each other.
“Some regions were marginalized since Kenya attained independence. The proposed revenue-sharing method will affect less developed counties. The 2010 constitution ended marginalization to ensure every region benefits and gets development,” said Ateka.
On his part, Sheikh Hassan Omar, CIPK National Treasurer said the DP was elected in 2022 together with the President and he swore to serve all Kenyans without discrimination of any regions “The country is faced with numerous problems, whose solutions, the DP and other leaders must strive to offer,” he added.