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Christian and Muslim religious leaders say they want to hold an interfaith religious conference by the end of the year to promote understanding and help dispel negative and erroneous stereotypes.

Fifteen leaders from various Christian churches gathered in Wajir on September 26th to discuss public rhetoric about Islam and encourage a more respectful, positive dialogue with Muslims in the district.

The leaders, who are part of the Wajir Christians Fellowship, called the meeting in response to the controversial anti-Islam film "Innocence of Muslims", which sparked violent protests in a number of Muslim-majority countries.

As a result of the meeting, Christians and Muslims plan to hold an interfaith conference, according to Pastor Eustus Nyagah of the East African Pentecostal Church in Wajir. The conference aims to bring people together to exchange views in a respectful manner and help dispel prejudices, he told Sabahi.

He said religious extremists on both sides should be judged individually and not be seen as a reflection of an entire faith. "Why should the larger community suffer because of the actions or rhetoric of one individual? That is the height of intolerance and we should not accept it," he said.

Nyagah condemned the grenade attack on September 30th that killed one child and injured nine other people at the Anglican Saint Polycarp Church in Nairobi's Pangani district, as well as the violent reactions targeting ethnic Somalis after the explosion.

The meeting is not meant to proselytise but to break down hostile images created by Christian hardliners, said the Venerable Rueben Njue, head of the Anglican Church of Kenya in North Eastern Province.

"Muslims and Christians certainly hold stereotypes against each other," Njue told Sabahi. "They are stains that we need to eradicate using religious defence."

Njue condemned the movie and said hateful speech and actions are against Christian values and do not help communities foster good relations. "We do not want the larger Muslim community to think that a few individuals with extremist views represent or speak for the larger community," he told Sabahi. "Christianity is based on the tenets of love."

On September 27th, Njue brought together Christian and Muslim religious leaders and local authorities to discuss how to move forward as a united community. He said the leaders hope to build upon Kenya's long history of mutual trust among people of both religions, which has sustained harmonious co-existence for many years.

Njue said Kenyans should guard against radicals who are trying to create a divide. "The terrorist attacks and the anti-Islam movie aim at waging a war between Muslims and Christians and Kenyans should not fall for them," he said.

Interfaith dialogue curbs extremism

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Wajir Branch has expressed support for the interfaith conference initiative, saying it will go a long way in curbing extremism from both sides.

CIPK Wajir Branch Secretary Sheikh Abduwahab Mursal said CIPK will continue engaging with the Christian community. "If we are invited by our Christians brothers for a religious discourse, we will attend out of solidarity," he told Sabahi.

Muslim and Christian religious leaders also plan to form a joint delegation to visit other parts of the country such as Garissa and Mandera to promote peaceful dialogue, he said.

Wajir East District Officer Kepher Kageni told Sabahi that the government plans to do whatever possible to help facilitate interfaith initiatives and strengthen a sense of unity among all Kenyans.

He commended the religious leaders' proactive approach to fighting extremism. "Religious leaders are revered [in their communities] and their guidance, especially at a time when there are people who want to create sectarian divide, is crucial," he said.