Middle-East

Kenyan Muslim leaders launch funds drive to support Palestinians

Muslim leaders in Kenya during the launch of the funds drive to support Palestinians at Nairobi's Jamia Mosque on March 3, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi/EV)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Sunday, March 3, 2024

They unveiled a designated Pay Bill number (150770) with the account name "Gaza" for donations.

In a bid to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians, Muslim leaders in Kenya initiated a funds drive today at the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including Abubakar Bajaber, Assistant Secretary of Jamia Mosque, Abdullahi Abdi, Chairman of Namlef, Hassan Ali Amin, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, and former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow.

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During the gathering, the leaders released a press statement expressing solidarity with Palestine and urging Kenya to cut ties with Israel.

They called upon both Muslims and all Kenyans of goodwill to boycott Israeli products, with a comprehensive list of these items set to be circulated by Jamia Mosque.

Additionally, Jamia Mosque announced plans to lead a campaign against the sale of Israeli goods, while major mosque imams will undergo training to disseminate names of these products and other messages within their communities.

Emphasising the importance of unity among Muslims, the leaders highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Palestine.

Abubakar Bajaber, Assistant Secretary of Jamia Mosque, Abdullahi Abdi, Chairman of Namlef, Hassan Ali Amin, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, and former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow at the press conference in Nairobi's Jamia Mosque on March 3, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

They reported that over 30,000 people have lost their lives, with more than 150,000 wounded or missing, and an estimated 25,000 women and children among the casualties.

Starvation tactics

The leaders condemned Israel's alleged use of starvation tactics, which they claimed had resulted in the deaths of numerous children.

The leaders urged Kenya's leadership to condemn Israel's actions, like other nations such as South Africa.

"Kenya continues to pay lip services to this matter and is even unable to express a coherent and morally stable position on this clear issue of Gaza," read part of their statement.

They lamented Kenya's reluctance to take a decisive moral stand and called for the government to openly denounce what they described as the "genocide" in Gaza.

"While other states have cut diplomatic ties with Israel, Kenya cannot even allow its citizens to demonstrate in Nairobi," said Billow Kerrow.

Drawing parallels with historical atrocities, the leaders likened the situation in Palestine to the Rwandan genocide, asserting that the International Community's inaction perpetuates the suffering of Palestinians.

Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi, chairman of NAMLEF during the launch of the funds drive at Nairobi's Jamia Mosque on March 3, 2024. (Photo: Amin Abdullahi)

They urged Kenya to follow the lead of other states that have severed diplomatic ties with Israel and demanded the freedom to protest peacefully in Nairobi.

To support survivors of the ongoing crisis, the leaders appealed to people of goodwill both Muslims and non-Muslims to contribute generously to the humanitarian cause.

They unveiled a designated Pay Bill number (150770) with the account name "Gaza" for donations.

In addition to the fundraising efforts, the leaders vowed to organize countrywide demonstrations.

Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi said Hamas are freedom fighters akin to organisations such as the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa and the Mau Mau movement in Kenya who all fought for their lands.

"Hamas are freedom fighters, just what ANC was in South Africa and Mau Mau in Kenya," he said.

The initiative seeks to galvanize support for Palestinians and pressure the Kenyan government to take a more assertive stance on the conflict in the Middle East.