By Betty Luke
Isiolo County’s Somali Council of Elders Chair Abdullahi Sharrif has been summoned over demeaning utterances he made that were seen to directed to the non-Muslim communities living in the county.
Mr Sharrif is expected to appear at the County Criminal Investigation office today over remarks in a video circulating online where he is heard advising Muslims to desist from making political coalitions with non-Muslims as they would take over leadership in event anything bad happens to the Muslims.
The elder is also heard referring to other religions as “infidels” and urging the Muslim not to pick Deputy Governors from non-Muslim communities.
Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding termed the utterances unfortunate saying they were likely to polarise and destabilise the county.
“It is sad that the sentiments came from a leader and we want to assure residents that we shall take action in order to safeguard the peace and tranquility of our county,” said Mr Omoding.
The administrator has also instructed the community to eject the elder from the Chairperson’s position maintaining that the security team would treat the sentiments as coming from the whole council should the elders fail to take necessary action.
“They must eject the elder from the leadership position or we shall assume he spoke on behalf of the community,” he said.
A section of the community elders on Sunday said they did not mind legal action being taken against Mr Abdullahi and maintained that the utterances were his and not of the community.
Mr Shariff, following criticism, has come out to defend himself claiming he was misquoted and that he was referring to those with no religion and not Christians.
“I am a Muslim and Christians are my brothers. I did not mean ill, I only asked Boranas to elect people who are likely to safeguard their interests and not those with no religion,” he said.
