| Supreme
Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM)
INTRODUCTION
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) is the umbrella
body of all the Muslim Organizations, Societies, Mosques Committees
and Groups in Kenya. The members of the Council are these
Organizations, Societies, Committees and groups affiliated
to it and not individual Muslims. The population of Kenya
is 30 million (thirty million). The Muslims constitute thirty
percent. This translates to 10 million (ten million) Muslims.
WHY
WAS SUPKEM FORMED?
Muslims in Kenya as in any part of the world have different
local problems and needs. To solve these problems, Groups,
Committees, Societies and Organizations are formed. Each of
these Organizations aims at improving the life of its members;
and by life it means the short life on the surface of the
earth (Dun’ya) and the eternal life hereafter (Akhera).
These
Organizations may be approaching the same issues and problems
in uncoordinated ways and may be duplicating them. Efforts
to bring about the coordination of these activities and common
approach to issues and problems led to the idea of the formation
of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims. The council was formed
with a clear vision of a united and therefore strong Muslim
Community in the country. A community to be recognized in
the country.
A
community whose contributions in national development would
not only be enhanced through unity but would also not be taken
for granted. A community with clear, strong and established
links with the Kenya Government and with the outside world.
The
Muslims had been discussing the idea and by the Grace of Allah,
the idea was strengthened by the visit of Almarhum Sheikh
Muhammad Mahmoud Asswawaaf who was sent from Saudi Arabia
by the late king Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Soudy (Rahmatullah
aleihi) who helped to form such Supreme bodies in quite a
number of African Countries. The Supreme Council of Kenya
Muslims (SUPKEM) was formed in May 1973 following the holding
of a General Conference at Qur ‘an house, Mfangano Street,
Nairobi Kenya.
VISION
The Council was formed with a clear vision of a united and
therefore, strong Muslim community in the country. A community
whose contributions in national development would be approached
and recognized through unity of purpose. A community with
clear, strong and established links with the Kenya government
and with other local and international Development partners.
THE GOAL OF THE COUNCIL
To carry out and discharge in every way possible the obligations,
duties and responsibilities Muslims owe as a Community to
Islam and bring about thespirit of brotherhood, unity among
Muslims in Kenya.
THE
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNCIL
The main objectives of SUPKEM are;
i. To promote the growth of united efforts by its member organizations
in all matters beneficial to the progress of Islam and the
Muslim Ummah,
ii. To facilitate corporation and collaboration between member
Organizations in their programs of activities and to serve
as agents for conciliations in the event of disputes or misunderstandings
arising between any of the Organizations, whenever called
upon,
iii. To provide a single channel of communication with outside
world and with the Government of Kenya on any matter touching
on the FAITH, INTEGRITY and the GENERAL WELFARE of Muslims,
iv. To refrain from being partisan, that is taking sides in
political wrangles BUT to stand firm on political issues which
have direct or indirect effect on the Muslim Ummah,
v. To act as a coordinator, advisor and spokesman for all
Muslim Organizations in Kenya so as to provide a UNITED STAND,
vi. To set up and establish Islamic projects such as education
Institutions which could offer both secular and Islamic studies
to the Muslim youth.
COVERNANCE
The Council’s activities are run from its secretariat
in Nairobi with staff who implement the decisions of the National
Executive Committee that is elected at the Annual General
Meeting. The Executive Committee exercises its mandate and
nominates some deserving Muslims to run several directorates
and to sit on the Executive Committee.
All the members of the Executive Committee volunteer their
time and therefore are not paid for their services. The paid
up Secretariat is very small due to the financial constraints
and this is the biggest drawback. Most of the work is done
by members of the Executive Committee on voluntary basis during
their spare time.
THE STRENGTH OF THE COUNCIL
The Council has Executive Committee Members who work purely
on voluntary basis. This to a greater extend has enabled the
Council to make some progress as building its capacity at
the grass roots level.
THE COUNCILS ACHIEVEMENTS
1) Through collaboration and cooperation with its member Organizations
and with the assistance from well wishing international donors
especially the Islamic Development Bank (1DB), the Council
has initiated development projects on behalf of the Community
Among
this projects and programs are;
-
Kenya Muslim Academy which is providing the much needed
Islamic environment and opportunity for Muslim boys to pursue
the secondary education (the school was put up by I.D.B
and the Mosque by Africa Muslim Agency).
-
The Maragua Muslim Girls Secondary School build by I.D.B.
This is a recent program for the Muslim Girls to study and
live under Islamic environment. This project needs a lot
of support from donors.
-
A bursary program under which money is disbursed annually
to deserving Muslim students studying in secondary schools.
-
Administration of the I.D.B Scholarship programme which
has seen about 140 young Muslim men and women train as Doctors
and Engineers in Turkish Universities. Most of these students
have come back and are gainfully employed to the benefit
of the Community and the nation at large.
-
Kendu Young Secondary school in Kendu Bay - providing secular
and Islamic studies to Muslim boys and girls/and is open
to non- muslim students.
2)
The Council in its capacity as the Umbrella Organization negotiated
with the Government of Kenya and secured.
• The registration of the Islamic Teachers Training
College
• The resolution of the land issue for Islamic Institutions
• The facilitation of the Kadhis Court.
3)
The Council has mobilized and advised the Muslim members of
Parliament (MPs) by arranging seminars to prepare them whenever
BILLS of particular interest to Muslims are being debated
in the parliament.
IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROGRAMMES
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims in collaboration with
the Kenya Government and in Partnership with donor Communities
was involved in the implementation of the following programmes;
-
The National Civic Education Program (NCEP) funded by Like
minded Donors (LiMid) between June 2001 andJune 2002
-
The Kenya Domestic Observation Program (K-DOP) also funded
by LiMid that observed events leading up to and including
the General Elections of 29th December 2002
-
National situational analysis and KAPB study on HIV/AIDS
among Muslim populations countrywide funded by the National
Aids Control Council between November 2002 and January 2004.
-
The First Muslim Leaders Consultative Conference on HIV/AIDS
held at the Reef Hotel, Mombasa in October 2003 with Action-Aid
Kenya.
-
A Thematic Workshop on Muslim HIV/AIDS Policy at the Reef
Hotel Mombasa in April 2004 with funding from Action-Aid
Kenya.
-
Family Health International Madrássa and Imams’
Curriculum
-
Civic education towards referendum on Constitution Review
Process
CHALLENGES
FACING MUSLIMS
To realize real unity of the Community
To mobilize the community to support its visions and programs
To effectively function as the legitimate mouth piece of the
community on National and International issues.
To impact upon the Government and other institutions to realize
that Muslims are indeed what they are, about one third of
the Kenyan population.
APPEAL
TO WELL WISHERS
SUPKEM is run by volunteers in their spare time and using
secretarial services from their places of work or from well
wishers. For SUPKEM to effectively execute its intended objectives
and goals it requires:
-
A strong fully paid up administrative Secretariat whose
budget is Kshs. 1,000,000 per month.
-
An endowment (Trust or Waqf) so that the Council can be
assured of a standing income.
-
Independent media facilities to include print, radio and
T.V.
-
Hospital and funding for construction of the proposed offices
as per photograph.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
In spite of all the short comings and problems SUPKEM is facing,
by the UNLIMITED GRACE OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH (SWT) it has made
an impact on the Government and outsiders both friendly and
hostile to Islam, and SUPKEM is working very hard to establish
the recognition of the Muslim Ummah in Kenya and beyond.
CONTACTS
Tel:
216963/216965
Fax: 243109
P.O.BOX
45163- 00100,
Nairobi.
email:
ncep@supkem.or.ke
LOCATION
ISLAMIA HSE,
Moktar Daddah Street /Njugu Lane Nairobi. |
