President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned the death of Muslim cleric Sheikh Hassan Suleiman who was the National vice Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK).
Sheikh Hassan died on Sunday and was buried at the Kikowani Muslim cemetery at 8pm according to his Islamic faith.
The was also an assistant registrar for marriage and divorce certificates in Mombasa. Sheikh Hassan will be remembered for his role in countering violent extremism in Mombasa in the height of Masjid Musa chaos. He was among moderate clerics who stood against radical teachings by slain clerics Sheikh Aboud Rogo and Abubakar Shariff Alias Makaburi.
Uhuru described the cleric as a reasonable leader who tirelessly worked to advance religious liberty and tolerance in Mombasa.
The President said he worked together with the cleric to counter violent religious extremism and youth radicalisation.
“As President, I had the honor of working with Sheikh Hassan to counter violent religious extremism and youth radicalisation. Sheikh Hassan was widely respected as a reasonable, just, sober, and selfless leader,” he said.
The President said Hassan was frequently called on to mediate and resolves disputes between individuals and groups and was committed to the course of peace and to the ideal of unity in all his undertakings.
“He believed that all people, irrespective of religious or ethnic background, could learn to co-exist in harmony,” he said.
The President asked Kenyans to emulate his selfless service and dedication to serving people.
According to CIPK Organizing Secretary Sheikh Khalifa Mohammed, the late Hassan had been ailing for several months.