Fatwa Council Welcomes Appointment of Abdulhalim as New Chief Kadhi

The Kenya National Fatwa Council has welcomed the appointment of Athman Abdulhalim Hussein as the new Chief Kadhi.

Abdulhalim was appointed to the position on Monday by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after conclusion of the recruitment exercise.

Reacting to the new appointment, Fatwa Council deputy director Sheikh Abubakar Bini said he was the suited individual for the job.

Bini also said the Council is ready to work closely with the new Chief Kadhi.

“As the Kenya National Fatwa Council, we want to thank JSC for conducting a transparent recruitment exercise and settling on Abdulhalim because of his experience and work ethic,” Sheikh Bini told Uasin Gishu News on Tuesday.

He also said the Kenya National Fatwa Council chairperson Ahmad Sharif Ahmad was fully in support of the new appointment.

And as the new Chief Kadhi takes over the role, Sheikh Bini as advised him to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors.

“If he follows what other Chief Kadhi’s have been doing, he will get the light and steer the Muslim community to unity,” said the Fatwa Council deputy director.

Abdulhalim takes over from Ahmed Muhdhar whose term ended in December 2022.

Appeal court

Before his appointment, he was serving as the Senior Principal Kadhi.

But even as the new Chief Kadhi takes over the reigns, Sheikh Bini has called for the establishment of the Court of Appeal section for the Kadhi Courts.

The court of appeal, he said, would help ensure Muslim matters are well handled within the religion’s laws.

“We ask that the government through the Chief Justice establishes a Court of Appeal where Muslims who are not in agreement with the Kadhi Courts ruling can go to,” Bini said.

Currently, a Muslim not satisfied with the Kadhi Court ruling can only challenge the ruling in the other courts starting with the High Court.