Muslim clerics in Mombasa have welcomed Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich to the Archdiocese of Mombasa, pledging to work closely with him in promoting peace, unity and interfaith cooperation.
The clerics joined Catholic faithful during a ceremony at St Joseph’s Parish in Tudor, where they formally welcomed Archbishop Kimengich following his arrival in Mombasa.
Archbishop Kimengich expressed his appreciation for the gesture, saying the presence of Muslim religious leaders made his reception in Mombasa complete.
He said the visit demonstrated the strong bonds that exist between Christian and Muslim leaders in the region, noting that Archbishop Martin Kivuva had worked closely with Muslim clerics to strengthen interfaith relations.
“When we work together, we can see the fruits of our togetherness. We understand one another and when there is an issue, we sit down and solve it together,” Archbishop Kimengich said.
He said religious leaders should continue walking together whenever differences arise, helping communities resolve conflicts through dialogue rather than confrontation.
The Archbishop also revealed that the Muslim clerics had presented him with a copy of the Holy Quran, which he said he would read as part of efforts to better understand the Muslim faith.
He noted that both the Bible and the Quran emphasise peace, saying greater understanding between people of different faiths would contribute to a more peaceful society.
“If we are able to really understand each other, then there will be peace. Nobody loses when there is peace; people lose when there is conflict,” he said.
Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics representative Sheikh Mahmoud Abdillahi said Muslim leaders were ready to work with Archbishop Kimengich on matters affecting the community.
Sheikh Abdillahi said Christians and Muslims have a shared responsibility to protect peace because they are all Kenyans and would collectively suffer the consequences of instability.
“If Kenya is destroyed, we are all destroyed, and if Kenya prospers, we all prosper,” he said.
He welcomed Archbishop Kimengich to Mombasa and pledged the council’s cooperation in addressing social issues affecting residents.
Women Desk representative from the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, Munira Faraj, also pledged to work with the new Archbishop, particularly on issues affecting women and children.
Faraj said women are often among the first victims when social problems and conflicts emerge, making interfaith cooperation critical.
She said the women’s desk would continue with the work it had undertaken with Archbishop Kivuva under the new leadership.
“Our unity is our strength,” Faraj said, calling for greater love, compassion and cooperation among religious communities.
The call for unity was also echoed by Catholic youth representative Eric Ochieng, who urged Kenyans to put aside religious and tribal differences, particularly as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Ochieng challenged young people to choose leaders based on their ability to promote peace and development rather than their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
