A senior Imam, Mohamed Ibrahim Hussein, is currently in police custody after being accused of stabbing two people during a violent altercation at Taqwa Mosque in Njiru, Nairobi.
The incident occurred as two factions, both vying for control of the mosque, clashed over its leadership.
According to reports, the leadership wrangle has been ongoing, with Imam Mohamed leading one faction and the other faction being led by the family of Ahmed Mohamed, whose mother donated the land on which the mosque stands.
The family has accused the Imam of attempting to seize control of the mosque through unscrupulous means.
The violence erupted after a joint security meeting between the two factions and the Njiru sub-county security committee, which had recommended the involvement of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and Jamia Mosque to mediate the dispute.
Despite the intervention, tensions escalated inside the mosque, where Imam Mohamed allegedly brandished a knife and attacked two victims, Ahmed Mohamed and Edin Adan, following a heated confrontation.
Ahmed Mohamed, one of the victims, recounted: “He suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed me in the stomach and arm.” Edin Adan, the other victim, sustained a head injury and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
This attack follows a similar incident in 2022, where Imam Mohamed was also accused of assaulting another individual over the same leadership dispute. The case is still pending in court.
The Imam is set to appear in court on Tuesday, with authorities urging the warring factions to seek peaceful resolution to avoid further violence.
