The Council for Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has disowned a statement by the Muslim for Raila lobby that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga was the Muslim community's preferred presidential candidate in the coming polls. 

CIPK National Vice- Chairman Sheikh Abdalla Ateka declared that the Muslim leadership had not identified a candidate to support for presidency in the polls and dismissed officials of the Muslims for Raila lobby group as “a bunch of self seekers out to make a windfall from candidates.” 

Addressing the press after conducting Eid ul fitr prayers at the jamia Mosque in Kakamega town, Ateka said the issue of preferred candidate has not featured in any of the meetings organized by Muslim organizations in the country. 

“Muslims are not bound by any agreement,” Ateka said of a declaration by the Muslim for Raila patron Adan Abdulahi that any Muslim supporting other presidential candidates was going against the Islamic faith. 

The Muslim for Raila lobby recently declared that the five year old election pact for Muslims to support Prime Minister Raila had not collapsed after his loss to President Mwai Kibaki in the last general election. 

Abdullahi who works as a political strategist in the PM office insisted that Muslims should dutifully observe the pre-2007 election pact with Raila because it is a promise not fulfilled. 

Muslims, he claimed had received a fair share of the national cake and appointment into government positions as a result of the support for the ODM. 

“Mulsim no matter our origin should remember that the Memorandum of understanding we signed with Raila compels us to stick to the promise to be faithful in his bid for presidency. We supported him in 2007 but the election was stolen,” Abdullahi had said. 

He said a decision on whom the support in the polls was a personal decision of voters adding Muslim leaders can only advise whenever necessary.