Detectives at the Kayole Police Station in Nairobi are holding a senior Imam for the offence of causing grievous harm to at least two persons.
Imam Mohamed Ibrahim Hussein is reported to have stabbed two people as two factions fought over management of Taqwa Mosque, located within Njiru in Nairobi.
Two groups have been embroiled in leadership wrangles at the mosque fighting for its management.
The accused, Imam Mohamed, is the leader of one faction and the other faction is led by the family of Ahmed Mohamed, whose mother had donated land for construction of the mosque.
The family accused Mohamed of using unscrupulous means to grab and take charge of the mosque.
Attempts to stop him were met with brutal force as the Imam brandished a knife and launched a brutal attack on Ahmed Mohamed and Edin Adan. This happened inside the mosque just after prayers.
“Sheikh Ibrahim alisema alikuwa na court order ya kuwatoa wenye walikuwa kwa msikiti, huwa anadhania ni mimi niko na funguo, ghafla alitoa kisu na kunidunga kwa tumbo na mkonom,” said one of the victims, Ahmed Mohamed.
Another, Edin Adan, added: “Hawa watu walikuja kugrab msikiti na sisi tukasema haiwezakani, mimi niliumia kwa kichwa unaiona hapa nimeshonwa.”
The stabbing happened after a joint security meeting between the two factions and the Njiru sub-county security committee which had resolved to have the dispute addressed by SUPKEM and Jamia Mosque.
Njiru Police Commander John Owuoth stated: “After two minutes tukapata message wameanza kupigana kwa mosque, wale waliumia walipelekwa Mama Lucy na yule alidungana alimakatwa.”
Police say it is not clear why and how the Imam decided to take matters in his hands after their intervention.
The Imam is also accused of having attacked and assaulted Adan Tall in a similar incident over the same matter in 2022. The case involving him is still pending before court.
“Ilikuwa 2022, I was attacked hapa kwa mvurugano kama hii, nikaumizwa mkono, kudungwa kichwa, nikapelekwa kwa Kayole Police Station, wale waliohusika waliwachiliwa kupitia ODPP,” said Adan Tall.
The Imam is currently in custody at Kayole Police Station awaiting court process on Tuesday as police insist on peaceful coexistence of warring parties to avoid further conflict.
