Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi now says that he is the one who operationalized the Waqf Act 2022 while he served as the Attorney General.
Muturi’s remarks come after President William Ruto stated that some aspects of the Act were not in operation.
“The Waqf Act came into force on 31st March 2022, but it was during my short tenure that I operationalised it,” he said.
The former AG went on to state a list of events that followed the enactment of the Waqf Act.
Muturi said that on July 12, 2023, he appointed the Waqf Commission Selection panel and then wrote to the National Treasury and the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC) to seek a budget for the Selection Panel and the allowances payable to the Selection Panel.
He said that it is under his tenure that the Waqf Commission Selection Panel held its inception meeting on April 18, 2024 and was sworn in on May 14, 2024.
The former AG then ran an advertisement on behalf of the selection panel calling for suitable persons to apply to be Waqf commissioners, but a month later, President William Ruto dissolved his entire Cabinet.
“President dissolves Cabinet on 11th July 2024 whilst the shortlisting was ongoing,” Muturi said.
He, however, said that after he was moved to the Public Service Ministry, the process did not progress, despite him exiting while shortlisting was ongoing.
According to Muturi, this is despite the Chairperson of the Waqf Selection Panel, Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome, seeking an audience to progress the matter, but it continues to stall to date.
Speaking at an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto assured the Muslim community that the issues surrounding Waqf would soon be resolved under the current Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor.
“I had a problem with the AG who was there before, he was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months,” the President said on Tuesday.
Ruto’s remarks were in response to concerns raised by Muslim leaders who had attended the state Iftar dinner over delays in operationalising the endowment fund despite an existing Act (Waqf Act, 2022).
Muturi, in a swift rejoinder to the remarks, however, said that while the act exists, it does not provide for the creation of a Muslim Endowment Fund.
He insisted that it is a personal initiative by any individual who professes Islam.
“Under the Waqf Act no.8 of 2022, there’s 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,” the former AG said.
