NAIROBI (Halbeeg) – Muslim clerics in Kenya have opposed President Uhuru’s proposal to appoint a non-muslim ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Uhuru has recently nominated Mr Peter Ogego as Kenya’s next ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The nomination of Ogego was submitted to the Kenyan Parliament for approval.
Two prominent clerics have urged the President Uhuru to drop the proposed nominee and replace him with a Muslim person.
Jamia mosque Imam Muhammad Swalihu and chairman of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Yusuf Nzibo have appealed to President Kenyatta to mull the issue saying a Muslim is better suited to serve Kenya’s best interests as an ambassador in the deeply religious country.
Mr Swalihu said a Muslim ambassador is better placed to handle Hajj affairs as there are important cities in Saudi Arabia where access is limited to Muslims.
“As things stand, this will cause a lot of complaints within the Muslim community,” Mr Swalihu said in a letter addressed to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau.
Mr Swalihu’s call received support from SUPKEM chairman, who said it was not in the best interest of the country to have non-Muslims holding the position of ambassador and deputy Ambassador in the Riyadh mission.
If endorsed by the House, Mr. Ogego will fill the position left by Wajir County governor who served the Kenyan ambassador to Saudi Arabia, before he was elected as governor.
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