NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 – Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor has appointed a five-member selection panel tasked with nominating suitable candidates for appointment to the Waqf Commission.
The panelists, appointed under Section 7(1) of the Waqf Act, are Jawahir Keinan Hassan, Al-Hajji Hassan Kirua ole Naado, Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome Asmani, Sheikh Abdala Ibrahim Ateka and Sumayya Hassan.
The newly constituted panel will oversee the nomination process to ensure the selection of qualified individuals for the Waqf Commission.
Additionally, the Attorney-General revoked Gazette Notice No. 9143 of 2023, making way for the fresh appointment.
The move which seeks to strengthen the governance and administration of waqf affairs in the country, comes days after President William Ruto promised to actualize the commision.
‘Fairly incompetent’
President Ruto, while hosting an Iftar dinner at State House on Tuesday, singled out former Attorney General Justin Muturi for delayed creation of a Muslim Endowment Fund, labeling him as “fairly incopetent”.
President Ruto assured the Muslim community of a resolution within months.
“As we move forward, we will continue to address the issues raised here—particularly those concerning education—and explore the link between religious and formal education to determine what needs to [be] done,” Ruto said.
“On Waqf, I agree with you; it has taken too long. There is no reason for the delay, and I had a problem with the AG who was there. He was fairly incompetent, but now I have a very competent lady, and I can assure you the issues of Waqf will [be] sorted out,” he added.
Ruto would subsequently fire Muturi as Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, nominating Igembe North MP Geoffrey Ruku in his place.
The President’s remarks marked the strongest indication yet of a growing rift between him and Muturi, who has accused the government of being complicit in abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Just before his firing, Muturi fired back, denying President Ruto’s characterization.
Muturi maintained that the existing law does not support the creation of such a fund.
“Under the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022, there is no provision for a ‘Muslim Endowment Fund.’ It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi stated.
Source: capitalfm
