Kenya: Muslim Cleric Shot Dead in Mombasa

Police are investigating the murder of a Muslim cleric in the Coastal city of Mombasa.

Mohammed Idris 64 , chairman of the Council of  Imam and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) was shot dead on this morning outside his house in Likoni area .

Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa said three assailants riding a motorbike confronted the Imam and shot him at close range as he was heading to the Mosque for morning prayers.

He was shot in the abdomen by the attackers who escaped without stealing anything from him.

Marwa said Idris was pronounced dead on arrival at Pandya hospital after he was rushed to the hospital by his relatives at  around 5.00am He said police are investigating the incidents.

Idris was an Imam at the troubled Sakina  Mosque in Majengo  for over 30 years before he was ousted by  radical Muslim youths  late last year.

He was accused of not supporting Jihad teaching and being a government sympathizer claims he repeatedly denied . His body was taken Pandya hospital for autopsy and will be buried later today at the Kikowani cemetery.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has condoled with the family of the Imam.

"Ina Lilahi waInaIlaihi Rajiun. It is with profound shock that I have learnt of the untimely death of my good friend, the Chairman of the Council of Imams and preachers, Sheikh Mohamed Idris who was killed in Likoni. May Allah give Sabr to his family" Joho said through his twitter handle.

Family members have condemned the killing and urged the state agencies to investigate the incident.

They claimed that Idris was living in fear since he was thrown out of the Mosque along with CIPK organising secretary general  Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa.

Several Muslim clerics including sheikh Hassan Suleiman and Sheikh AlI Bahero of CIPK have in the past past being attacked by radical youths.

The county commissioner has assured them of their safety. Tension is high in the Mombasa due to fears of retaliation from the cleric's  supporters.


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