PM ODINGA CONDEMNS SHOOTING AND CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

Prime Minister Raila Odinga condemned the killing of Aboud Rogo Mohammed and called on both Muslims and Christians to show restraint.

The shooting of Aboud Rogo “is the most heinous act and stands condemned in the strongest possible terms”, the Prime Minister said.

PM Odinga called for restraint from Muslims and Christians. “We urge for calm”, he said, “because I know emotions are running high” and added, “we don’t want to see inter-religious war come out of this because this has nothing to do with religion”.

Of the rioting PM Odinga said it “was not acceptable” and that the perpetrators should be “arrested a soon as possible and taken to court”.

MUDAVADI SAYS AVOID “RETALIATORY VIOLENCE”

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi called on Kenyans not to consider acts of violence and retaliation. “We should not condone the shooting or killing of any Kenya”, he said. “Retaliatory violence only exacerbates situations that could be better handled through the rule of law”, Mudavadi said.

MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN CHURCH LEADERS CONDEMN RIOTING

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), Muhdhar Khitamy, said, “The burning of churches is against the faith” and called or those responsible to be arrested.

Mohamed Idriss, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said the rioters were fanning religious unrest and called for them to be arrested.

Christian leaders also condemned the violence. “Most Christians are shocked by the aftermath of the killing of Sheik Rogo”, said the Reverend Lawrence Dena, a vice chairman of the Mombasa Churches Forum.

Father Gabriel Dolan, a Catholic priest who preaches in the Bagladesh slums in Changamwe,

and a regular Daily Nation columnist, called on elected leaders to begin dialogue with the rioting youths to put an end to the violence.

A statement on behalf of the national Council of Churches of Kenya said: “We have completely

failed to understand the logic that made the demonstrators associate the heinous murder of Aboud Rogo with churches and properties belonging to innocent Kenyans”.

DPP TOBIKO LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO SHEIK ROGO ASSASSINATION

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr Keriako Tobiko, has set up a team to investigate the killing of Sheik Rogo, including government officers and individuals from independent agencies coordinated by the Assistant Deputy DPP Jacob Ondari. The team includes representatives from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the Law Society of Kenya, the Independent Police Oversight Authority, and the Commission on Administration of Justice.