Muslim Advisory Council demands disbandment of Waqf commission selection panel

The Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council (Kemnac) has called on President William Ruto to dissolve the newly appointed selection panel for the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf) Commission, arguing that its members have a history of opposing Waqf reforms and may not act in the best interest of the Muslim community.

Kemnac Chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao, speaking during Eid prayers at the Ronald Ngala grounds in Mombasa, criticised the five-member panel appointed by Attorney General Dorcas Oduor last week.

Sheikh Juma raised concerns over the panel’s composition, noting that its members—drawn from the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), and the National Muslim Leaders Forum (Namlef)- had previously taken legal action against Waqf reforms.

“We are wondering how the very people who went to court to sue us because they were opposed to the reforms are today the ones forming the panel to select commissioners. These are just troublemakers,” he said.

Sheikh Juma, who served as a Waqf commissioner for six years and was instrumental in drafting the new Waqf Act, warned that the selection panel could undermine the progress made over the years. He argued that the panel might prioritise personal interests rather than focusing on the broader Islamic agenda, thus threatening the future of the commission.

“They could undermine the progress we have made. Their appointments may not align with the core Islamic agenda. I know them well—that is how they operate,” he said.

Fair process

The Kemnac chairman urged President Ruto to intervene and disband the panel, calling for the appointment of neutral individuals to ensure a fair and unbiased process.

“We request the dissolution of this panel. The new members should not be affiliated with any particular group to prevent bias. We need a commission that serves Muslims without tribal, racial, or personal interests. This is what has plagued Waqf for the past hundred years,” he said.

He further warned that failing to address these concerns would allow mismanagement and sectarian interests to persist within the Waqf system, which has faced governance issues for decades.

“Mr President, this panel should be dissolved. It is not fit for the job,” he reiterated.

A Gazette Notice issued on March 28, 2025, listed the appointed panel members as Jawahir Keinan Hassan, Al-Hajji Hassan Kirua ole Naado, Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome Asmani, Sheikh Abdala Ibrahim Ateka, and Sumayya Hassan. Their appointment, under Section 7(1) of the Waqf Act, replaced a 2023 Gazette Notice and is expected to accelerate the implementation of the Waqf Act, 2022.

In addition to his concerns about the Waqf panel, Sheikh Juma also addressed rising youth crime during his Eid speech.

He condemned incidents of young boys wielding machetes to terrorise residents, urging parents to ensure their children attend school and calling on authorities to take strong action against those engaged in criminal activities.

He also highlighted the need for adequate security during and after the Eid celebrations as he joined other leaders in urging authorities to address the growing security concerns in the region.

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