Muslim clerics and communities across Lamu County have condemned the recent murder of a man in a mosque, turning it into a wake-up call for peace and unity.
On May 13, Khalid Maka, 33, was fatally stabbed on the right side of his neck at the Jamia Mosque in Faza during the Adhuhr (midday) prayers. A scuffle broke out when two men attempted to force Maka out of the mosque over a dispute linked to the management of the facility.
Lamu Muslim scholar and imam, Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulkadir, said that the incident shattered the traditional sanctity of a place of worship. He noted that historically, places of worship have been viewed as safe havens and sanctuaries.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Abdulkadir called for heightened religious and community vigilance to ensure peace and security in the area.
“When a murder occurs during prayers like the unfortunate incident witnessed inside Faza Mosque last month, it demonstrates that even the most sacred spaces are no longer immune to extreme violence. As a community, and even the state, we have to reevaluate and strengthen the upbringing of our children and security at large,” he said.
Mr Abubakar Shekuwe, the Lamu branch chairperson of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), condemned the act, terming it cruelty that is beyond International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
International Humanitarian Law protects civilian sites and cultural property, including places of worship and other religious sites, from being targeted for destruction or use for military purposes by state or non-state actors during armed conflict.
Mr Shekuwe decried the increase in violence, especially machete attacks and killings among youth. Such incidents have led to unrest in the area, he added.
Mr Shekuwe called on the state to ensure that those responsible for the killing inside Faza Mosque and other similar violent and cruel incidents are brought to justice swiftly and that action is taken against them, so that the victims' families can receive justice.
The CIPK chair cited drug abuse among young people as the main cause of the recurring incidents of insecurity recorded in the county.
“Drugs have destroyed many families, marriages and peace. Our youth don’t respect the law of the land anymore. They do what they want, including revenge attacks and murdering one another. They don’t go to mosques anymore to at least pray or even respect those places of worship,” said Mr Shekuwe.
He added, “The Faza Mosque murder should be used as a wake-up call for us, the imams, parents, and the security agencies at large to come together and address this community rot. The incident demands a moral reckoning forthwith,” said Mr Shekuwe.
Ms Sauda Kassim, representing the women of Lamu, said that the recent wave of violence in the county signals an alarming rise in intolerance and extremism.
“We, the Lamu community, are prompted to consider civil dialogue about protecting vulnerable places of worship through better community policing and security measures. It’s also high time that parents question themselves about where they’re failing in raising children that are morally upright,” she said.
Lamu Youth Assembly President Nahida Kassim called for concerted effort from all stakeholders to tackle violence. She said imams and scholars are uniquely positioned to counter any form of violent ideology through their sermons and teachings in mosques.
“It’s high time the community members, religious leaders and everyone engage the youth so that we embrace interfaith dialogue and provide guidance against vengeance and other behaviours destroying our young generation,” she said.
Abdallah Mohamed, a cleric and principal of the Riyadha Mosque and Islamic Centre, said places of worship hold deep social and spiritual value. He said that leaders, law enforcement agencies and citizens have to work together to prevent attacks, preserve peace and ensure safety for all.
“In Islam, killing an innocent human being is like killing the entire humanity, and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. The murder inside Faza Mosque is unfortunate... We must confront, evaluate, and take responsibility for such ethical failings and ensure we work towards rectifying it,” said Mr Mohamed.
The clerics and members of the public vowed to stand strong and pledged solidarity to ensure Lamu retains its original stature as a haven of peace bound by traditions that promote unity and a sense of belonging.
