The Clash of Ideologies in Africa – Kenya
David J. Jonsson
January 26, 2008
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This is the third of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance.
As Kenya braced itself for a fourth week of post-election unrest and violence resulting from the continuing standoff between President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga it is worthwhile to explore in depth the causes and the players as more live are lost.
Although the propaganda being put out by the press considers the events the result of vote counting, tribal conflicts and ethnic cleansing, deeper issues exist concerning the Clash of Ideologies between Muslims and Christians. The funding for the clash has origins resulting from foreign government funding of mosques, charity, and investment.
Islamic governments have targeted Kenya as a key element in the spread of Islam in the Horn of Africa and ultimately the world. The Kenyan Diaspora including Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Hussein Obama has also played a part. The fall of Kenya into Islamist control would be devastating to anti-terrorist activities in the Horn of Africa, not to mention the potential for the expansion of a caliphate. One has to ask, how fast will Kenya go Islamic and apply Shariah law?
Barack Hussein Obama – The Rise of Islam in Kenya
I have worked and traveled in the Christian and Muslim countries Africa for more than 30 years. I have witnessed first hand apartheid in South Africa, the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, coups in Nigeria and Sudan, the rise of Al Qaeda, the growth of the Muslim Brotherhood and other key events. In spite of witnessing all these events, I believe that the recent events Kenya stand out as a watershed event signaling the emerging resurgence of Islam in Kenya and the beginning of the open Clash of Ideologies between the Muslims and Christians.
The events unfolding do not represent a Clash of Civilizations, ethnic issues or a race issue, the conflict is between Ideologies – Muslim vs. Judeo Christian Ideologies and between Leftist/Marxist authoritarian (Liberal Fascism vs. democratic free enterprise.)
Kenya a Microcosm for Future Events
The battles occurring in Kenya are a microcosm of the future battles that will occur in the West and the United States elections as we witness the growth of the Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance striving to achieve “Change” and create a New World Order leading to the formation of a global Islamic kingdom of God. Whether it is by economic means through the formation of Islamic finance and economics and acquisition of Western assets via the Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs), military and political action, or terrorism, the goal is the same. The growth of Islamic Financial institutions and their Sovereign Wealth Funds applying Shariah law should be an early warning to this growing trend. See also: Sovereign wealth rules Financial Times, January 21, 2008.
“It is unlikely the climate will remain this conciliatory. Morgan Stanley predicts sovereign wealth assets will rise fourfold by 2015 from today's level, which is equivalent to 5 per cent of global market cap. Far too much faith is being put in creating voluntary codes of conduct that emphasize funds “independence and transparency.”
As Christopher Caldwell in his article A feeble defence of our freedoms in the Financial Times of June 23, 2007 commented:
“Geography, it seems, is getting ever less - and ideology ever more - important. The barrier between national and international affairs is eroding. This erosion brings new strength to radicals and new vulnerabilities to the West. As the French scholar of Islamism, Olivier Carré, has written, a key precursor to the hardening intellectual climate in the Muslim world was a redrawing of the lines between holy and unholy by such intellectuals as Sayyid Qutb of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. For Qutb, the geographical distinction between a "house of Islam" and a "house of war" was replaced by an ideological one - between what was genuinely Islamic and what was jahil (pre- or anti-Islamic). The frontier now runs through the middle of every Muslim's head, wherever he may live, so the whole world becomes a battlefield. Riots in Islamabad can intimidate Britons - and are meant to.”
 The violence is the worst Kenya has witnessed since a failed coup in 1982. The media has been, shall we say obtuse, in describing the combatants, the murderers - what exactly is at play. It is interesting that Barak Obama should saddle up to the agitator - Raila Odinga aligned with Islam. |
Origins of Islamization in Kenya
The Clash did not begin with the battles, terrorism and genocide following the election in December of last year. The preparation for the open Clash began as an Islamization movement in the 80’s and 90’s with the building of Mosques and Madrasses, the dispatch of fundamentalist Imams to Kenya and has moved into the open in 2008. It's been hard to escape the news of the horrific atrocities coming out of Kenya.
Recently we learned of children being torched and burnt alive in a Kenya church. In broad daylight, a crowd of Kenyans set a church filled with hundreds of terrified families on fire and listened to their screams as flames engulfed them.
The violence is the worst Kenya has witnessed since a failed coup in 1982. The media has been, shall we say obtuse, in describing the combatants, the murderers - what exactly is at play. It is interesting that Barak Obama should saddle up to the agitator - Raila Odinga aligned with Islam. However, Kenya’s Muslim population crossed the Tipping Point (See: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell) where Muslims traditionally assert themselves and their Islamic law (shariah) on the poor, unsuspecting host country. In the November elections in the United States, like Kenya the Muslim vote may be the key Tipping Point in critical states, such as Michigan for the election of the next President. See also from Global Politician on November 9, 2007: From the Mosque to the Schoolhouse to the White House by David J. Jonsson.
Introducing Islamic Finance and Banking
Islamic influence in the Kenyan government has increased considerably following massive pro-establishment voting by the largely Islamic Coastal and North Eastern provinces. Kenya is a predominantly Christian country. The CIA World Fact Book for Kenya estimates the religions as Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2% but notes that a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely.
According to the article in ArabianBusiness,com: Islamic bank set to launch in Kenya, Kenya’s Muslim population is 26%, but there is a dearth of banking services that comply with Shariah. A consortium of investors including a Bank Muscat unit and Dubai government investment agency Istithmar will open an Islamic bank in Kenya this April. The bank will operated under Shariah law. "Africa is an attractive emerging market for growth of Islamic finance. There is a lot of liquidity in the Gulf and we are making a bridge between the two," said Abdul-Malik al-Khalili Chairman of Bank Muscat International (BMI). Istithmar is a fully owned by the Dubai government; they paid $1 billion for a 2.7% stake in London-based Standard Chartered in October.
Introduction of Islamic banking and associated Shariah law has been a major factor in the growth and acceptance of Islam and conversions to Islam in the countries where it is introduced. Up to ten years ago it was rare to see coverage of Islamic functions and festivals on the national television. Countries should take note when considering introduction of Sukuk Bond financing and building Islamic banking centers.
The Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds in Islamization
The men who manage the so-called sovereign wealth funds of the Persian Gulf for their governments are quickly becoming some of the world's most powerful money managers. The net foreign assets of Gulf Arab states are set to rise to more than $2,000bn by the end of this year on rocketing oil prices. I don't think we should have any illusions that their investment decisions are totally benign investments. Merrill Lynch said on January 15 that it would raise $6.6 billion from selling preferred shares to an investor group that included the Kuwait Investment Authority. Thus the investment is raising the issue of the future role of Islamic Finance and Shariah law on the U.S. financial institutions. It is important to note that the Sovereign Wealth Funds are ultimately tools of government for investment and political gain. See also: Sovereign Wealth Funds: A Potential Tool of Asymmetric Warfare by David J. Jonsson.
Foreign Government Influence
The actions by foreign governments have led to the conversion to Islam of politicians. Much money has been coming into the country from places such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and the Sudan. These countries would like to see Islam expand from the Horn of Africa throughout East Africa and possibly further. In addition to funneling the money into charitable organizations, the money has gone to national television programs to explain Islam and to line the pockets of politicians.
In addition to building mosques, other projects include the recently opened Iran clinic, which basically offers medical services for free. Such efforts are expected to make Islam a viable alternative to Christianity. Moreover, in targeting young educated urbanites for conversion, they hope to give Islam in Kenya a vital young look in the hope of luring the younger generation which is disillusioned by the myriad of schisms in Christianity.
The extension of existing mosques and the building of many new ones are thus the key to this growth in Muslim converts as these shrines will provide the space for the teaching of new converts.
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