Muslim leaders in the North Rift region have welcomed the appointment of Hassan Omar Daffa as Kenya’s new Chief Kadhi, while urging him to prioritise reforms in the Kadhi Court system to improve access to justice for Muslims.

The appointment follows the retirement of his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Mohdhar.

Speaking in Eldoret, the Muslim leaders called on the new Chief Kadhi to push for the appointment of more Kadhi Court judges across the country to address the growing backlog of inheritance and divorce cases.

Led by Sheikh Abubakar Bini, Sheikh Abubakar Kisaka and Osman Kirui, the leaders said the shortage of Kadhi Court judges had contributed to delays in resolving family and inheritance disputes, affecting many Muslims seeking justice.

They further challenged Omar Daffa to champion the establishment of a Kadhi Court of Appeal to provide Muslims with a dedicated avenue for challenging decisions made by Kadhi Courts.

The leaders expressed concern that Muslims seeking to appeal decisions from Kadhi Courts often have their cases referred to ordinary courts, a situation they said raises concerns about access to justice within the Islamic judicial system.

The proposal was also supported by Uasin Gishu County Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) branch chairman Rashid Songok, who emphasised the need for an effective appeals mechanism for Muslims.

Before his appointment as Chief Kadhi, Omar Daffa served as a Senior Kadhi and also as a judge of the High Court of Kenya.

The Muslim leaders expressed optimism that his experience in the judiciary would enable him to strengthen Kadhi Courts, address existing challenges and improve the delivery of justice to Muslims across the country.