By E, KNA
Peace has finally been restored at the Quba Islamic Centre in Garissa following leadership wrangles that have lasted for almost five months.
The Centre, which sits on approximately 250 acres of land in the outskirts of Garissa town near Modika area, has been facing leadership disagreements since April this year, with reconciliation efforts by the local leaders and security officials turning futile.
The leadership wrangles whose genesis was a land dispute escalated to clan conflicts leaving several people injured.
So bad was the situation that the county security team led by the county commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo mid last month convened a meeting at the institution where a decision was made to immediately shut the institution to avert further wrangles and possible bloodshed.
It got worse when two Imams from the two groups led prayers simultaneously- a move widely condemned for breaching Islamic principles and the sanctity of worship.
The situation prompted the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) led by the national secretary Abdullahi Salat, alongside prominent scholars from Garissa, to initiate mediation efforts that brought the feuding sides to the table.
Speaking at a press briefing convened by Garissa SUPKEM officials and attended by both parties, among the resolutions arrived at was that each be given a section of land where they will carry out their activities.
Both Parties also agreed that the pieces of land allocated would be solemnly used for religious purpose, can be leased but cannot be sold or given out.
During the transition period, the SUPKEM-led mediation team will oversee any possible disagreement arising from resolutions reached so far.
Garissa SUPKEM chairperson Abdullahi Salat hailed the breakthrough describing it as victory for unity and faith.
He thanked both parties, the religious leaders and the local leadership for the important roles they played throughout the mediation process.
“We are standing here today to announce to the people of Garissa and the country at large that we have finally managed to restore peace and bring all the worrying parties to the table. The mediations have been very successful,” Sheikh Salat said.
“We want to acknowledge the support that we received from our leaders led by Health CS Aden Duale, Governor Nathif Jama and Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed throughout the mediation process,” he added.
On his part, Hassan Abdi, the SUPKEM treasurer for Carissa said the reconciliation offers healing and renewed direction calling on both parties to stick to the agreed resolutions.
“We want to appeal to the residents of Garissa to remain peaceful and go about their normal businesses peacefully. We are happy that the small misunderstanding that had been there for the last few months has been sorted,” Abdi said.
“As a community that treasures peace, let us now move forward with renewed purpose, ensuring that the freedom to worship remains uninterrupted and sacred,” he added.
Rashid Mohamed Farah, an elder, thanked all those who were involved in the mediation and reiterated the need for both parties to respect the agreed resolutions for lasting peace to be achieved.
“Let us not witness these feuds again. There should always be a way of resolving issues if and when they arise. At no point should they get to the level at which they got into this great institution,” Farah said.