A case over the management of assets worth billions of shillings owned by the Eldoret Muslim Association is now headed to the final stages.
This is after the Eldoret High Court which has been hearing the matter set the date on which association trustees will be put to the defence.
Secretary-General of the North Rift Muslim Youth Daawa Group Jamal Diriwo Omari had in 2021 moved to court seeking among others orders barring 9 Eldoret Muslim Association from permanently holding any positions.
He accuses the 9 of mismanagement of Muslim assets in Eldoret town that include plots where Mosques have been built.
Omari also told the court that some of the plots have since been illegally transferred to individuals.
Taken long
When he appeared before Eldoret High Court Judge Robert Wananda for direction in regards to the matter, Wednesday, the Muslim youth leader requested that the case be hastened in the interest of justice.
“This case has taken long and the respondents seem to be taking us in circles, I pray your honour that they are allowed to come to the court and present their evidence so that a judgement can be made,” Omari told the court.
“I am ready to cross-examine their evidence and witnesses so that this matter is put to an end once and for all,” he added.
The lawyer presenting the 9 respondents, who appeared for the case virtually, said he would present one witness.
May 25, 2023, was set as the date on which the respondents will be arguing their case before the court.
Respondents listed in the case include Mahmod Jama, Mohammed Ali, Mohamed Hajj Isaak and Idris Salim Keitany.
Others are Swaleh Chepkeitany, Mohamed Ghani, Abdul Jama and Abdi Omar.
Audit of assets
The case proceeded to a full hearing in 2022 following orders from the court.
Another order that Jamal Diriwo Omar is seeking from the court is an audit of all Eldoret Muslim Association assets dating back to 1990.
“We want an audit done since 1990 because that is when a proper audit was done for the Muslim assets. This is also a year we had an election held,” said Diriwo in a past interview with Uasin Gishu News.
Once the respondents present their witness, the judge is expected to retreat and draft his judgement based on evidence that will have been adduced by both parties in the matter.
