Islam in Africa 
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| Title: | Islamic Extremism in Kenya: The Rise and Fall of Sheikh Khalid Balala |
| Author: | Oded, Arye |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Periodical: | Journal of Religion in Africa |
| Volume: | 26 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Pages: | 406-415 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Kenya |
| Subjects: | violence Islamic movements religious parties Religion and Witchcraft revival & reform Islamism |
| External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/1581839 |
| Abstract: | The Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) was established in Mombasa at the beginning of 1992 by Muslim activists. In Mombasa especially, IPK supporters became the main political force in town. It seems that many Muslims believed that the IPK was a formidable force which could eventually force the government to consider their demands and abolish what they saw as discrimination against the Muslim minority in all spheres of life since Kenya's independence. Against this background of Muslim resentment and anger, a young Muslim sheikh, Khalid Balala, appeared on the scene. Until 1992 he was an unknown street preacher in Mombasa. He joined the IPK in mid-1992 and immediately became its main leader. From now on Sheikh Balala led all the demonstrations against the government and the IPK became more radical. The Muslim agitation and violent disturbances in Mombasa worried the government. Its first reaction was the use of excessive force and arrests, but gradually the regime started to use other methods. While continuing its harsh policy towards the extremists, the government started to give more attention to moderate Muslim demands, and also used the method of divide and rule. However, the founders of the IPK came to realize that Balala's violent militancy caused only loss of life. This led to a split in the IPK and in June 1994 Balala was expelled from the party. Notes, ref. |
