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“No Idols in Our Town” Competing for Religious Space in Kisumu City, Kenya

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“No Idols in Our Town” Competing for Religious Space in Kisumu City, Kenya “No idols in our town” Competing for religious space in Kisumu City, Kenya. Esha Faki • Kisumu is a cosmopolitan cityKisumu that lies on the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. • Population: 969909 • Composition of inhabitants – Luos – Kisii – Luhyas – Nubian – Arabs – Asians Kisumu Town • Religious Composition – Christians; Catholics, Protestants, AIC – Muslims, Sunni , Shia, Ahmadiyyah – Hindus – Sikhs – Jains Sikhs • Sikhism • Sikhs in Kenya and East Africa -1890s • Established as a skilled, honest, religious and hardworking community with phenomenal contribution to the economies of these countries. • build the old Uganda Railways were skilled workmen - carpenters, blacksmiths and masons. Sikhs • Sikh in Kenya-recognised everywhere by their external emblems and dress-men wear their distinctive turbans and beards; women loose dress and baggy trousers • Kala singha-indigenised • Ramgharia and Singh Sabah • Established in all Major towns in Kenya • Several Gurudwaras (14) with a biggest in Makindu Sikhs in Kenya • Today-as contractors, transporters, furniture makers, etc.Prominent in the subsidiary industries, owners of engineering workshops, garages, motor-lorry body-builders, and the like. • Active in motor sports –Joginder Singh ad his brother Jaswant-1965 Sikhs in Kisumu • Sikh community has a rich culture in Kisumu spanning 100 years. • Two sikh communities in Kisumu with Gurudwaras • Siri Guru Singh Sabha • Temple, primary school, Kisumu boys, dispensary Siri Guru Singh Sabha Siri Guru Singh Sabah in Kisumu Monument • 2013, decided to build a monument to celebrate and also share in Kenya’s 50th ann • Constructed on a roundabout along Mosque Road • Build by Oshoto Ondula • Oshoto had also created Tom Mboya statue placed in Nairobi Tom Mboya The Monument The Monument Controversy • the monument was completed, on Saturday 8th February 2014, this peace monument was brought down ruthlessly. • Residents claimed they did not want idol worship • Whistle for destruction was blown by Prophet Dr. Owuor prophesy • Efforts to dispel these claims futile Raila’s intervention Destroying the “Idol” The comparison Monument Destroyed Was procedure followed? • The monument belonging to the Sikh community was established after following the procedures to acquire the said piece of land about 38.5 m2 from the Kisumu County. Permission was sort to erect the said monument in celebration of the Sikh Community’s 100 years in Kisumu. • Water fountain Vs The statue of Peace Did Christians and Muslims have a right to destruction • Public participation-Public participation is a political principle or practice, and may also be recognized as a right (right to public participation). • Involvement and Consensus building Questions on Religious freedom • Does the Sikh Community have any rights to exhibit their religious symbols outside the confines of their gurudwaras? • The law allows for freedom of religious expression in principle- • “Christians and Muslims have not erected any statue in this town. They want to bring bad omen in this city. It will stall our economic development,” --Really? Questions on Religious freedom • Did the said Christians and Muslims had right to judge and discriminate the sikh as Idol worshippers • The Constitution prohibits any discrimination on the basis of religion and, most directly in its Preamble, outlines a vision for a unified nation of diverse religious practices. Kenyan Constitutional law effectively prohibits forced religious conversion as no one may compel another to perform, observe, undergo, or adhere to a religious practice or rite that is either contrary to one's beliefs or involves the expression of an unheld belief. The acceptance of the monument would have expressed Kisumu County upholding the spirit of the Constitution. Deep seated problems • Poverty- “The conflict in Kisumu can find explanation in many years of economic stagnation that the city and its rich economic hinterland has witnessed since 1970s,” stated Jack Nyamori, a Civil Society leader. • Idle Youth Deep seated problems • Lack of knowledge of other religions and lack of religious tolerance, appreciation of art work • “This is just a piece of art. Religious intolerance should be treated with the contempt it deserves. We must respect other peoples’ religions even if we disagree with them.” Said Charles Oketch, a businessman. The constitution Remedies • Chapter 10,1&2 • patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people; The constitution Remedies CONT’D • b) human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non- discrimination and protection of the marginalised; (c) good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and (d) sustainable development. .
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