Press Release
The Public Drowns while Leaders Count Losses!

At least 100 people have been killed and a quarter million left homeless in flood-related incidences since the start of spring flooding in Kenya. The most affected regions are Tana Delta, Tana River, Garissa, Isiolo and Kisumu. Widespread damage to crops and roads have occurred, as well as to water and sanitation infrastructure.

Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya has been saddened with the loss of lives and properties and wishes to make a call to the whole society, especially the Islamic society, to donate various relief supplies to the affected individuals as that is what Islam recommends. It is disheartening when thousands of people are facing chilly weather after their houses were destroyed by floods. The Prophet (saw) said:

«مَنْ فَرَّجَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً، فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرُبَاتِ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ»

“Whoever relieves the difficulty of another Muslim, Allah (swt) will relieve for him a difficulty among the difficulties on Judgment Day”.

The flooding have clearly shown the failure of infrastructural systems in the country. Even if it is true that floods can destroy roads, but it is also true that most roads in the country were not built to last. With rampant corruption, road patches that never prevent anything are done on a daily basis where in case of drizzles, such roads turn into impassable rivers!

To make matters worse, some areas do not even have a road network yet the government levies huge taxes sufficient for construction and improvement!

Often when such calamities occur, they reveal the true nature of the problematic capitalist ideology and its ruling systems of not giving priority to the public interests. In the battle for power, capitalist politicians roam the country in helicopters seeking votes but in flooding they stare at televisions as the public drowns! This is the true depiction of capitalism and their leaders of valuing their lives and disregarding the lives of the poor.

We believe that the situation could have not reached this point if the government was responsible as it would have taken early measures.

Even if we fully understand that mankind cannot naturally prevent such disasters, we are however aware that Allah (swt) has commanded the same Mankind to take precautionary measures by instituting special procedures as a way to mitigate such disasters when they occur.

Islam as an ideology and complete way of life defines the responsibility of taking care of the public affairs is primarily upon to the government and not individuals or private organizations. The Prophet (saw) said:

«الإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ»

“The leader of people is a shepherded and is responsible for his citizens.”

Hence, the Islamic state, al-Khilafah "Caliphate", is mandated to construct roads and ease transport. As for tragedies like floods and earthquakes, the Islamic State utilizes funds from the treasury (Baitul Mal) to tend to the affected people and this is its responsibility to the public and not a favor. If it happens there are no funds in the state treasury, then the Khalifah (Islamic leader) will be forced to levy the rich a specific amount to compensate for such a situation. This is how the Khilafah is expected to take care of the interests of its citizens bi idhni llah Taala.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya