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By James Ratemo and Patrick Beja
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has broken ranks with a section of Christians rejecting inclusion of Kadhi’s courts.
The SDA also supported the clause on abortion, unlike other Christians who insist abortion should only be allowed if the mother is in outright danger.
"Of course we are not disputing that life begins at conception and we do not encourage abortion. What we are saying is that a window should be left for abortion if the life of mother is in danger," said SDA East African Union President Paul Muasya.
Mr Muasya also said Kadhi’s courts have been in the Constitution and have never negatively affected Christians. He urged churches against the Kadhi’s courts to rethink their position to avoid unnecessary tension between Christians and Muslims.
"People have politicised the issue of Kadhi’s court and creating far-fetched fears that the courts could lead Kenya into a Sharia state," said Pastor Samwel Lumwe, SDA director for Adventist Muslim Relations.
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"Although we do not subscribe to the Kadhi’s courts, we do not object to their existence. We support co-existence of religions," said Lumwe.
The two SDA clerics were addressing journalists in Nairobi ahead of the arrival today of a multi-lingual Bible, touted to be the largest in the world.
Elsewhere, Church leaders in Coast Province threatened to reject the Proposed Constitution unless the clause on abortion is deleted.
Under the Coast branch of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the clerics cautioned Parliament against supporting the clause.
"The Committee of Experts has deceptively reintroduced abortion and we insist the Constitution must protect all human life, which begins at conception and ends at natural death," said NCCK Coast Chairman the Reverend James Ziro.
The leaders were addressing a press conference at a Mombasa hotel after a consultative meeting.
Rev Ziro said: "Abortion is tantamount to killing and the Church cannot let it be legislated."
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