June 19, 1992: Attorney-General Mr. Amos Wako, dismisses an appeal for registration by the Islamic party of Kenya (IPK) because of among other things, its religious inclinations. He said the IPK does not qualify to be registered as a political party because of its religious base Mr. Wako, in a four-page letter to Marende Taib and Company Advocates, lawyers for the IPK, said that to register a party based on religious sentiments amounted to the violation of the Constitution. The A-G said that if the party was registered, it would encourage the development of a theocratic state. The Registrar of Societies declined to register the IPK on May 26, this year because peace, welfare or good order in Kenya would likely suffer prejudice.” The leaders of the IPK filed their appeal through their lawyers to the A-G on June 3 which was received by Mr. Wako on June 8. Attempts by the leaders of the IPK to register the party have sparked off varied responses from leaders. President Moi on May 26, while addressing a Public rally at Rumuruti, Laikipia, said the IPK would not be officially registered because It had a religious background. The Head of State said the Government would not allow religious organisations to confuse wananchi by mixing religious activities with politics. But the IPK leaders claimed that its ideology was political and was not based on religious fanaticism and intolerance as had been implied by some people. The controversy recently reached Parliament when the MP for Likoni, Mr. Abdulkadir Mwidau, filed a question on why the party could not be registered.

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