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Kenya Muslims Say No to US School Funds
MUSLIM LEADERS have in effect sealed their rejection of an offer by Washington to fund Islamic religious schools in Kenya, by refusing to meet US ambassador William Bellamy during his recent visit to Coast province.
| "Nope. Nope. Ain't gonna meet with him. Piss off, infidel!" |
Confirming the initiative, Mr Bellamy, who was in Mombasa just over a week ago, told The EastAfrican that his government would consider funding Islamic education in the country once ongoing negotiations were complete. Washington has successfully carried out similar campaigns in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The offer by the US government is part of Washington's global anti-terrorism campaign to win over Muslim hearts and minds, especially in the light of fears that Islamic extremist groups were entering the East African region through the porous Kenya-Somalia border. The US has paid particular attention to Somalia, which has been without a central government since the overthrow of Mr Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991, and is seen as a haven for terrorist groups. Muslim leaders expressed fears that the initiative could be a ploy by the US intelligence to manipulate the curriculum in the schools, popularly known as madrassas, as part of its international anti-terrorist campaign.
| That would seem to be a reasonable assumption. Then again, the princes who're paying the freight now say what goes now, don't they? |
Sheikh Khalifa, the organising secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, said it was because of such doubts about Washington's intentions that the Imams declined to meet Mr Bellamy during his visit to Mombasa. "We doubt the Americans' sincerity in supporting Islamic schools and we suspect their aim is to influence our curriculum to suit their interests," he said. Sheikh Khalifa, who is also chairman of the unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya, said Muslim organisations would reject any assistance from the US because "they suspect there is an ulterior motive behind the offer."
| "... and we already have our own ulterior motives." |
Sheikh Khalifa said the move by the Americans had raised suspicions among Muslims after the Ministry of Education issued a directive requiring all madrassas in Kenya to be counted and to disclose their source of funding.
The move was, however, rejected by Muslims who said it was part of efforts to frustrate Islam in Kenya. Sheikh Khalifa claimed that a similar exercise had been carried out in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, indicating that the US had a hand in the Ministry of Education's directive.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2004-02-26 |
