Muslim leaders have demanded an apology from Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala or else they will ask all Mosques to denounce him.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) stated that the Tourism CS was anti-Islamic for resisting the government's ban on shisha.
The council demanded that Balala apologise and retract his statement or else they will organise demonstrations and advice all mosques to denounce him.
SUPKEM county chairman, Ali Said, maintained that the Cabinet Secretary was "definitely misleading the public.
[caption caption="Supkem Mombasa general secretary Khalfan Ali addresses the press at their county offices"]
[/caption]
"You can't just tell people that because shisha fetches money, then it is good. No. We want him to apologise," Said stated.
He further noted on Tuesday that Balala's statement promoted "stripping in clubs" in a "sinful" town.
"Even [Devolution PS Nelson] Marwa who is not a Muslim ordered a crackdown on shisha dens. He was expected to rally behind him and ensure strip clubs are shut," Said maintained.
Supkem's Mombasa Secretary-General, Khalfan Ali, accused Balala of prioritising material wealth over health, moral and Islamic teachings which he stated was a dangerous precedence by a leader of his caliber.
Ali added that Supkem had been fighting drug abuse so Balala's statement punctures their effort as Shisha is classified as a drug.
[caption caption="Tourism CS Najib Balala"]
[/caption]
"Smoking it encourages vigilante groups, drop-outs, and crime," the official stated when the two addressed the press at their offices.
"Muslim community leaders and Coast natives are so saddened by his comment that shisha provides revenue. This is unexpected of him, being a national leader with Muslim face," Ali added.
