A trader at the Nakuru wholesale market in Kenya goes through a copy of the harmonised draft Constitution at her kiosk. (Photo Courtesy Joseoh Kiheri)

Nairobi — Muslims have urged Christians to support the inclusion of kadhis courts in the new constitution.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims said there was nothing wrong in the courts being entrenched in the constitution.

"Kadhis courts are not religious courts. It is a judicial court that addresses the issues of marriage, divorce and inheritance to those who profess Islam as a religion. It does not infringe on rights of people who do not profess Islam," Supkem secretary-general Adan Wachu said.

Mr Wachu spoke as Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo held a meeting with leaders of the Evangelical churches, led by assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru, in Nairobi to try and convince them to accept kadhis courts.

On Monday, a section of Christians threatened to scuttle the law review unless kadhis courts were removed from the draft.

Led by National Council of Churches of Kenya secretary-general Peter Karanja, they said: "We are extremely opposed to the inclusion of kadhis courts in the constitution."

Rev Karanja said the move was tantamount to dividing the nation on the basis of religion and that it was a dangerous trend.

But on Tuesday, Mr Wachu said not all Christians were opposed and that Rev Karanja's "statement or opinion is not the official stand of the entire Christian fraternity in the country".

Mr Wachu said Muslims have lived well with Christians "since time immemorial" and that they will continue respecting each other's religious diversity.

He spoke to the Nation over the phone from Naivasha where he is attending an Inter-Governmental Authority on Development senior religious leaders' meeting.

The official termed Rev Karanja's statement shocking as kadhis courts were not rated as contentious both by Kenyans who gave their views to the Committee of Experts on the constitution and the Parliamentary Select Committee which concluded its sessions in Naivasha last week.

Mr Wachu called on Muslims and Christians under the Inter-Religious Council to "observe sobriety at this crucial time of constitution-making in the country".

He said the review should not be derailed by few individuals purporting to represent the interests of the majority.

On Monday, Rev Karanja's group also demanded the number of MPs be capped at 250 so that Kenyans do not shoulder the burden of financing a bloated Cabinet.

"We state that if the draft constitution to be presented in the referendum does not reflect these cardinal principles, the Christians in Kenya shall reject it in total."