Muslim groups back Raila bid

By Fatma Mzee

Three Muslim organisations have supported Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid, describing him as a defender of rule of rule and champion of democracy.

The Muslim Leaders’ Forum and several branches of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) endorsed the CORD presidential candidate after lengthy consultations in Mombasa, on Saturday.

They urged Kenyans to elect the premier on March 4 to foster stability in the country. The officials also said a motley of Muslim leaders and groups that have declared support for other candidates including Jubilee Alliance, were self seekers and do not represent Kenyan Muslims.??

Supkem Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Hassan ole Naado, who also leads the Muslim Leaders’ Forum, the Council which is the umbrella body of all the Muslim organisations, societies, Mosques committees and groups in Kenya said they endorsed Raila because of his past record.

“We Muslims like any other Kenyans are going to practice our constitutional right of voting in the best candidate with good track record and through our analysis we have found among all the presidential candidates, Raila is a leader of this country,” said ole Naado.??

He said Raila is the only candidate who is going to implement the Constitution if he is given chance to lead the country.