By Fredrick Nzwili • Catholic News Service • Posted December 17, 2019

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — Catholic leaders in northeastern Kenya are collecting donations to gift Muslims over Christmas season, despite attempts by al-Shabab Islamist militants to ignite a rift between the two faiths.

Priests serving in the region near the border with Somalia said that Muslim leaders have in the past delivered gifts to the church during key religious celebrations such as Eid al-Fitr.

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“It’s the church’s turn to give this time. There are families in the cold due to the current heavy rains. Some are trapped in the floods. We want to give them the gifts so that they can feel the warmth of the season,” said Father Nicholas Mutua, justice and peace coordinator in the Diocese of Garissa.

Father Mutua said the “gifts tradition” has continued for several years, helping boost coexistence and interfaith relations.

“We will move to prisons and children’s homes. We will also deliver some of the donations to needy families. It all depends on how much we are able to collect,” he said.

Al-Shabab, the Somalia-based al-Qaida affiliate in East Africa, recently crossed into Kenya, attacking churches, Christian institutions and, public transportation. The incidents appeared to threaten Christian-Muslim relations, but Father Mutua condemned the attackers, calling them criminals pretending to be Muslims.

“I am convinced these are few bad elements,” he said. “Contrary to perceptions, the Muslims have been with and know we are both facing threats from the militant group.”

In some of the attacks, Muslims stepped in to save the lives of Christians. In 2015, Muslim teacher Sarah Farah was shot as he shielded Christians during a bus attack in Mandera. He died weeks later, but his actions inspired a short film, “Watu Wote” (“All of Us”) which received an Oscar nomination in 2017.