Kenya’s Chief Kadhi Sheikh Athman AbdulHalim Hussein Dies
Sheikh Hussein was appointed Chief Kadhi in July 2023 by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), succeeding Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar. Sheikh Hussein was appointed Chief Kadhi in July 2023 by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), succeeding Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar.
Kenya’s Chief Kadhi Sheikh Athman AbdulHalim Hussein. Photo/Nairobi Monthky Law.
By Gilbert Mmbaya
Kenya is mourning the death of Chief Kadhi Sheikh Athman AbdulHalim Hussein, who passed away on Wednesday night in Mombasa after a short illness.
His death was confirmed early Thursday by family members and Islamic leaders, with funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah) held at Masjid Nur in Bondeni, Mombasa, and burial conducted at the nearby Kikowani Cemetery.
Sheikh Hussein was appointed Chief Kadhi in July 2023 by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), succeeding Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar. His appointment came after a rigorous recruitment process in which he emerged top among five shortlisted candidates.
Born in Malindi, Sheikh Hussein was widely respected for his humility, deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, and his efforts in strengthening Muslim family and religious matters in Kenya. He studied at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, one of the most prestigious institutions in the Islamic world, where he graduated with a degree in Islamic Law in 2001.
Throughout his career, Sheikh Hussein served in various capacities, including as a Kadhi in Mombasa, Kwale, and Nairobi, and as a lecturer and deputy administrator in the judiciary’s Kadhis’ courts.
His tenure as Chief Kadhi was marked by efforts to promote peace, interfaith dialogue, and justice in family matters governed under Islamic law. He was regarded as a unifying figure who stood for fairness and inclusion.
Condolence messages poured in from across the country, with top government officials and religious leaders mourning his death.
Chief Justice Martha Koome described his death as “a huge loss to the Judiciary and the country at large,” adding that Sheikh Hussein was “a dedicated jurist whose wisdom and leadership touched many lives.”
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We have lost a humble leader, a scholar, and a man of faith. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus.”
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale remembered the Chief Kadhi as “a great Islamic scholar, soft-spoken and deeply respected,” while former Chief Kadhi Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar praised him as “a worthy successor and a man of great humility and service.”
The Chief Kadhi’s death comes just two years into his tenure, leaving a significant void in Kenya’s religious and judicial community. The Judicial Service Commission is expected to initiate the process of appointing a successor in due course.
Sheikh Athman AbdulHalim Hussein is survived by his wife and children.
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