Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i on Wednesday urged religious leaders to support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) as it seeks to strengthen devolution and enhance the money sent to the devolved units.
Matiang’i urged them to critically read the report and understand its benefits and how it would empower the counties with more resources and entrench gender equality.
“The increased resources will see the counties realize meaningful development and offer quality services to the population,” said the CS.
Matiang’i was speaking in Mombasa when he met members of the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac) led by their chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao at the Star of the Sea hall.
He handed over a simplified version of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional document to the Muslim leaders and urged them to educate Kenyans on the benefits contained in the report.
At the same time, Matiang’i asked religious leaders to unite Kenyans and pray for peace in the country, saying religious leaders play a critical role in promoting unity, peace and harmonious coexistence in the society.
He underscored the need for Kenyans of different religious affiliations to coexist in peace and unity for the country to make meaningful progress.
“Peace, unity and stability are what we require today as a country if we are to make strides in socio-economic development” he said.
Matiang’i said several concerns raised by Kemnac through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) including issuance of passports to Muslims attending annual Hajj Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and community involvement in Lamu Port operationalization would be addressed appropriately.
Meanwhile, addressing a separate forum attended by community leaders at the Tononoka social hall in Mombasa on Wednesday, Matiang’i directed security agencies to deal firmly with the drug menace in the coastal city.
Matiang’i urged the community to support the police in eradicating the drug menace saying drug dealers were out to destroy the young generation.
He asked residents to notify the police of any suspicious activity in their localities and urged them to join hands with the police in fighting drug and substance abuse and related crime.
Matiang’i said police have mapped out 39 hotspots in Mombasa that have been experiencing high crime rates and said police will intensify patrols to reduce crime.
He praised the regional security team for its coordinated efforts to fight drug menace and other criminal activities in the area.
by Mohamed Hassan
