Uasin Gishu Imams Demand Urgent Recruitment of Kadhi Judges
Sheikh Abubakar Bini, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), North Rift region, said the JSC last recruited Kadhi judges in 2015.
Muslim leaders in Uasin Gishu County call on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to urgently recruit more Kadhi judges. Photo: Screengrab.
By Robert Mutasi
Muslim leaders in Uasin Gishu County have called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to urgently recruit more Kadhi judges, citing a shortage that they say has contributed to delays in the determination of cases in Kadhi’s courts.
The imams said the situation has become increasingly difficult as the number of Muslims seeking services from the courts continues to grow while the number of serving Kadhi judges has declined.
Sheikh Abubakar Bini, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), North Rift region, said the JSC last recruited Kadhi judges in 2015.
He said several of those recruited at the time have since retired or died, leaving vacant positions that have not been adequately filled.
“Since 2015, the JSC has not recruited new Kadhi judges. Some have retired while others have passed away. Their numbers have reduced significantly, yet the Muslim population continues to grow,” Sheikh Bini said.
He said the shortage was affecting Muslims seeking justice in matters handled by Kadhi’s courts, including marriage, divorce and inheritance disputes.
According to Sheikh Bini, some cases take months to be heard because of the limited number of judges available to handle them.
“This gap has affected services to Muslims. Cases involving marriage, divorce and inheritance are delayed for months. A person comes seeking Islamic justice only to be told that there is no Kadhi available and asked to return later,” he said.
Uasin Gishu resident Arif Muhammed said delays in resolving family disputes were having serious consequences for affected households.
He cited child maintenance and inheritance disputes as some of the cases that can leave families in prolonged uncertainty when they are not resolved promptly.
“We see families suffering. Mothers are denied child support, while inheritance disputes continue for years because there is no Kadhi to make a determination. We are asking the government to listen to our concerns,” Muhammed said.
Imam Abdulaziz Muhammed of Masjid AP Mosque urged the JSC to fill vacant positions and consider increasing the number of Kadhi judges based on the population and workload in individual counties.
He said additional judges would help reduce congestion in the courts and enable Muslims to access justice without lengthy delays.
“We urge the JSC to act quickly. Filling vacant positions and increasing the number of Kadhi judges according to the needs of each county will help people access services on time and with dignity,” Imam Abdulaziz said.
The leaders made the remarks during a religious education ceremony at Masjid AP Mosque in Eldoret, where more than 100 students from Madrasa Tul Hudaa were awarded certificates for their performance in Islamic studies.
The students competed in areas including Quran memorisation, Fiqh and Hadith. Those who emerged among the top performers received certificates during the ceremony attended by hundreds of worshippers.
Organisers said the competitions were intended to encourage young people to pursue Islamic education and develop a strong foundation in religious teachings.
“We want to promote Islamic education among the current generation. Recognising these students is meant to encourage them to continue learning and prepare them to become better leaders in the future,” one of the teachers said.
The imams said Kadhi’s courts have a constitutional mandate to administer justice in matters falling within their jurisdiction.
They urged the JSC to address the shortage of judges, arguing that adequate staffing would help clear the backlog and ensure Muslims receive timely access to justice.
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