Religious leaders and county officials have called for unity and peaceful coexistence among residents during the final edition of the Mombasa Street Festival, which featured a community street iftar bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims in the coastal city.
The event, held in Mombasa during the holy month of Ramadan, attracted members of different faiths who gathered to break the fast together in a show of solidarity and community spirit.
Speaking during the event, Reverend Canon Richard Otieno from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) said their attendance was a demonstration of interfaith unity and cooperation.
“We are here courtesy of an invite from our Muslim colleagues. Our presence here shows the importance of unity among us despite coming from different religious backgrounds,” said Otieno.
He noted that residents of Mombasa share common challenges and should not allow differences in religion, tribe, culture or politics to divide them.
“We all live in this city of Mombasa and we all face similar challenges. We should not allow ourselves to be divided on tribal, cultural, political or religious grounds. When we all come together we can achieve so many things and develop our county,” he added.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Secretary General Mohammed Dor described the street iftar as a unique initiative that fosters unity among residents.
“This street iftar is a novel idea. It brings us together as members of the Mombasa community,” Dor said.
He added that Islam encourages unity and peaceful coexistence among people regardless of their backgrounds.
“Our religion advocates for unity and togetherness without discrimination. As we are approaching the end of Ramadan, we are encouraged to be together and promote unity,” he said.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Blue Economy Ibrahim Khamis also lauded the initiative, saying such gatherings help strengthen social cohesion among residents.
“This kind of initiative is important, especially now that we are heading towards an election period. We need to bring our people together,” said Khamis.
He added that the event also provides an opportunity for non-Muslims to better understand Islamic traditions and practices.
“This also helps those who are not Muslim to learn more about Islam,” he noted.
Organisers said the street iftar forms part of efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, unity and community bonding in Mombasa, especially during the holy month of Ramadan when acts of charity, togetherness and compassion are highly encouraged.
