AG appoints panel to appoint Muslim bequest fund members

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor /FILE

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has gazetted five members of the selection panel for the appointment of members of the Waqf Commission.

This commission plays a vital role in managing Islamic endowments, ensuring proper administration of charitable assets and addressing legal concerns that have hindered progress for years.

The appointment of the selection panel is in accordance to the powers conferred by section 7 (1) of the Waqf Act to the Attorney-General.

The members include Jawahir Keinan Hassan, Al-Hajji Hassan Kirua ole Naado, Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome Asmani, Sheikh Abdala Ibrahim Ateka and Sumayya Hassan.

The five have been appointed for the purpose of nominating suitable candidates for appointment as members of Waqf Commission.

This comes days after President William Ruto assured the Muslim community that the issues surrounding Waqf would soon be resolved under the current Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor.

“I have a very competent lady in the position (Attorney General), and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months,” the President said on Tuesday during an Iftar dinner at the State House, Nairobi.

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).

The Waqf Act came into force on March 31, 2022.

According to the Waqf Commission, it involves donating a building, plot of land, or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets.

The Waqf Commission is mandated with registering all Awqaf, and Administering and managing Waqf properties registered under the Waqf Act, 2022.

It also supervises the efficient and effective management of all Waqf properties registered under the Waqf Act, 2022 and ensures the effective implementation of the provisions of the Waqf Act, 2022.

The Waqf Commission is comprised of a chairperson appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning alongside six other members, also appointed by the CS on the recommendation of the Muslim Community.

It also comprises representatives of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and another from the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.