NAIROBI, December 10, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Kenyan Muslims have stepped into the current heated political debate in the country, rejecting President Mwai Kibaki's new cabinet and calling for snap elections.

"By leaving out the likes of Raila Odinga , Najib Balala , Kalonzo Musyoka and Linah Kilimo who have fought for democracy of this country and brought the government into power when Kibaki himself was bedridden following an accident is a mischief and must totally be rejected," Sheikh Mohamed Idris, the chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, told IslamOnline.net.

He blamed Kibaki for short changing Kenyans who voted him en mass in 2002 general elections.

Sheikh Idris said the majority of Kenyans, including Muslims who make up ten percent of Kenya's 30 million population, were against the new government.

A defiant Kibaki swore in a new line-up packed with loyalists on Friday, December 9, rebuffing calls to reconsider a widely derided line-up already compromised by the refusal of several nominees to serve.

Kenyan Muslims believe the new cabinet would not be appropriate to better serve Kenyans and insist that Kibaki call a snap election.

"President Kibaki should read the mood of Kenyans and knows that Kenyans are dissatisfied with what his is doing," Sheikh Idris said.

"Its only a snap election that can solve the current political crisis".

Sheikh Idris further told IOL that local Muslims will protest the government until meaningful changes especially on constitutional review process are put in place.

Kenyan opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta has also called for a snap election "to free the country from the dangers of an ineffective and unpopular Cabinet".

He told reporters that Kibaki still had the opportunity to listen to the voice of reason and agree to initiate dialogue with all political parties, to chart a way forward for the country, in a manner acceptable to all.

"In the absence of this, I am calling on you, Mr President, to take the next honorable action, and to immediately call elections to bring leadership and direction back to Kenya."

Following his referendum embarrassment, Kibaki sacked all ministers and their assistants, saying it was necessary for him to re-organize the government to make it more cohesive and better able to serve the people of Kenya.

Three ministers and 21 deputies have declined to take up their appointments and boycotted the swearing-in ceremony after urging its delay so that consultations could be held with outraged opposition groups.

Perhaps the most notable absentee was 2004 Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai, who was tapped to be deputy environment minister.

"It is not that I am declining, I leave my options open," she told reporters. "I want to see how efforts for dialogue proceed before I make my decision."

"If these divisions get into parliament, they could have disastrous results," she said, echoing an assessment widely shared by analysts.

Ford Kenya party national chairman Musikari Kombo dealt Kibaki a severe blow when he led his party in a mass walkout from the cabinet.

Ndhiwa MP Orwa Ojodeh had rejected a ministerial appointment, saying his community had been given a raw deal while Kitui Central MP Charity Ngilu too declined to take up her former position as health minister and said she would first consult her party.