North Rift Imams Urge Government to Address Kadhi Shortage
“There was a plan by the government to hire at least 15 new Kadhis, but unfortunately, that plan has since been shelved. We are now dealing with a growing gap as many Kadhis have retired”
North Rift imams, led by Sheikh Hussein Mohammed of Eldoret Jamia Mosque and Sheikh Abubakar Bini, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) North Rift Region, have made an urgent appeal to the government and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to address the significant shortage of Kadhis in the country.
Speaking during the burial of Sheikh Abdulaziz Tito Kunyuk, the Kadhi of the Nakuru Court, who passed away after a long battle with illness, the imams highlighted the pressing issue of understaffing in the Kadhis’ courts. Sheikh Abubakar Bini lamented that the current situation is unsustainable, as one Kadhi is often tasked with serving more than five counties. “There was a plan by the government to hire at least 15 new Kadhis, but unfortunately, that plan has since been shelved. We are now dealing with a growing gap as many Kadhis have retired, while others, like our brother Tito, have sadly passed on. This leaves a significant gap in service delivery, and it is imperative that this issue be addressed urgently,” said Sheikh Bini.
Sheikh Hussein Mohammed echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical need to ensure justice for Muslim communities. He called on the Judicial Service Commission to expedite the recruitment of more Kadhis and magistrates, stating, “The Kadhis’ courts are integral to ensuring justice for our Muslim brothers and sisters. The delay in filling these positions has caused undue strain on the courts and has hindered their ability to deliver efficient services. Immediate action is needed to resolve this.”
Turkana North Member of Parliament, Paul Ekwom Nabuin, who was also in attendance, pledged to take up the matter in the National Assembly. He assured the Muslim leaders that their concerns would not go unheard. “The call by our imams is both legitimate and urgent. As a Muslim MP, I will advocate for the Judicial Service Commission to prioritize the employment of more Kadhis. This will help expedite cases affecting Muslims in Kadhis’ courts across the country and ensure justice is accessible to all,” said Nabuin.
The burial ceremony, which was held to honor the late Sheikh Abdulaziz Tito Kunyuk, saw leaders and religious scholars come together to reflect on the critical role of Kadhis in society. Sheikh Tito, who had served as the Kadhi of the Nakuru Court, was remembered as a dedicated servant of justice and an advocate for fairness in resolving disputes within the Muslim community.
In a message of condolence from the Chief Justice, delivered by the Chief Kadhi Sheikh Abdulhalim Hussein, the judiciary extended its sympathy to the family, friends, and the Muslim community at large. The Chief Kadhi, who was accompanied by magistrates and judicial officers from Nakuru Court station, underscored the late Sheikh Tito’s contributions to the justice system, stating, “His commitment to justice and fairness will remain a guiding legacy for all of us in the judiciary.”
The imams and leaders reiterated their call to the government and the JSC to act swiftly, noting that the growing backlog of cases and the geographical spread of Kadhis’ responsibilities are unsustainable. “We are not asking for anything extraordinary; we are simply asking for what is fair and necessary. Justice delayed is justice denied, and our communities are bearing the brunt of this shortage,” Sheikh Bini concluded.
The leaders emphasized that the recruitment of more Kadhis would not only ease the burden on the existing courts but also ensure that justice is delivered promptly and fairly, strengthening the trust of Muslim communities in the judicial system.
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