By  Abdel Qader Anoi, IOL Correspondent

AIROBI — Kenya's two main presidential candidates are turning to the sizable Muslim community in the hope of tilting the balance in their favors in next month's polls, tipped to be the closest-ever in the east African nation.

"For the first time, presidential candidates are chasing Muslim votes, which have become quite crucial," Mohamamd Tig, a journalist, told IslamOnline.net.

"They are meeting Muslim leaders and promising to address their problems."

Last week, incumbent President Mwai Kibaki reached out to Muslims by declaring `Eid Al-Adha, one of the two main religious festivals on the Islamic calendar, a national holiday.

Sheikh Abdullah Ali, a mosque imam, said both Kibaki and opposition frontrunner Raila Odinga have been competing to win over Muslims.

"During an iftar with Muslim leaders (in Ramadan), Kibaki vowed to increase the number of Muslim officials in the government if he reelected," he recalled.

He also set up a fact-finding commission of senior government officials, including Attorney General Amos Mako, to verify Muslim complaints of discrimination at government offices, especially when applying for IDs or passports.

Sheikh Ali added that Odinga, for his part, has pledged to sever Kenya's anti-terror alliance with the United States, which is irking Muslims.

The opposition frontrunner reportedly inked an agreement with Muslim leaders, obliging himself to meet Muslim demands once in office.

Both presidential hopefuls were keen to appear last month before cameras shoulder-to-shoulder with Muslim leaders celebrating `Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Recent polls saw Kibaki closing the gap with Odinga to just four percentage points ahead of next month's election, expected to be Kenya's closest ever.

The third candidate, former foreign minister Kalonzo Musyoka who went his way after a bitter power-struggle with Odinga, is seen as a spoiler.

Concerns

But Muslims remain divided on the best choice for the coveted post.

"One camp wants to punish the current president for failing to resolve their problems over the past five years and for his close cooperation with the US in its so-called war on terror," Tig notes.

"Others are fairly satisfied with Kibaki's performance and believe he is the only one who understands their just causes and who will be able to meet their needs."

Tig says the second camp includes leaders of the influential Council of Imams and Preachers.

"But I believe that this division serves the interests of Muslims at the end of the day because diversity is a healthy phenomenon and heats up the election race."

The Muslim journalist said the stumbling development process in areas with Muslim concentrations is among the greatest concerns for Muslim voters.

Muslims also hope next president would give more cabinet and government posts for their coreligionists.

"Muslims are further highly critical of the strategic alliance with the US in the war on terror, which had broader implications on Islamic charities in Kenya," said Tig.

Muslims make up around ten percent of the Kenya's 35 million population