By Jane Meza
Mombasa City, Kenya: Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Ali Joho and Aden Duale are urging the Muslim community to unite, support the broad-based government and obtain national Identity Cards.
Speaking at the third annual graduation ceremony of the Ibn Abbas Islamic Centre in Mombasa, Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs CS Joho highlighted the crucial role of the Muslim community in national politics and leadership, and encouraged them to actively participate.
He highlighted the recent removal of additional vetting procedures for national IDs as a positive development, urging the community to register for IDs and as voters in large numbers.
“When they count our votes in 2027, they will be perplexed,” stated Joho, adding that the numbers will be a significant leap in the realization of a Muslim President in the 2032 general election.
He urged Muslims to unite, emphasizing that the Holy Qur’an abhors divisions among the faithful and calls for unity.
CS Joho slammed leaders who are opposing the removal of extra vetting on IDs saying they are just playing politics. “We must be counted,” he emphasized.
Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry CS Aden Duale assured the Muslim community that during their tenure as Cabinet Secretaries, they would prevent the adoption of policies detrimental to the community.
Duale also noted that Muslim and pastoralist communities influence 20 counties and pledged to ensure they vote as a bloc to secure President Ruto’s re-election for a second term.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir acknowledged that Muslim unity was causing unease in some quarters.
He announced plans to identify individuals lacking IDs and birth certificates and to assist them in acquiring these essential documents through Ward Administrators.
“We will advance this agenda not by words but by actions,” Nassir stated.
