Kenyan leader vows crackdown on religious extremism

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed on Tuesday his government will deal ruthlessly with those inciting religious hatred across the country.

Kenyatta also blamed the Garissa killings on religious extremism saying leaders should unite and fight vices that threaten peace and harmony in the country.

"You cannot force religion on people. Religion is between individuals and their God," the president said Kenya's lakeside city of Kisumu.

Kenyatta said the government will hunt down individuals who preach religious intolerance and ethnicity in the country.

He said divisive politics that threaten cohesion and peaceful coexistence and therefore distract Kenyans from productive activities will no longer be tolerated.

Kenyatta, who was in Kisumu for the 2nd Annual Conference on Devolution, said Kenyans of different religious backgrounds have been living peacefully and will not be divided by selfish interests.

The Kenyan leader said a united nation will ensure peace and economic prosperity for the benefit of all citizens.

He told elected leaders to rise above partisan politics and work together to unite Kenyans to engage in activities that impact positively on their lives.

"Elections come and go. Let us embrace ideologies that improve on the lives of Kenyans. You should not allow politicians to misuse you for selfish gain," he told the youth.

The president's remarks come after the government appointed a team that will work prosecutors to carry out investigations into Garissa terror attack where 148 people (142 students) were killed and over 70 others injured on April 2.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery also interdicted seven top police chiefs and two administrative officers in Garissa County to allow investigations to be completed.

The move came after Kenyans had expressed their anger over the conduct of police officers during the ten-hour siege and blamed high death toll on security officers whom they accuse of slow response during the attack.