By Robert Mutasi 
Muslim leaders in Uasin Gishu County have urged the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to urgently recruit more Kadhi judges to address a growing backlog of cases in Kadhi’s courts.
The imams said the shortage of Kadhi judges has left many Muslims waiting for months for their cases to be heard and determined, particularly those involving marriage, divorce and inheritance.
The leaders spoke during a ceremony at Masjid AP Mosque in Eldoret, where more than 100 students from Madrasa Tul Hudaa were awarded certificates after taking part in religious competitions.
Sheikh Abubakar Bini, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), North Rift region, said the shortage had persisted for years, with the last recruitment of Kadhi judges taking place in 2015.
“Since 2015, the JSC has not recruited new Kadhi judges. During that period, some judges have retired while others have passed away. Their numbers have declined significantly while the Muslim population continues to grow,” Sheikh Bini said.
He said the shortage was directly affecting access to justice for Muslims who rely on Kadhi’s courts to resolve matters governed by Islamic law.
“This gap has affected services to Muslims. Cases involving marriage, divorce and inheritance are taking months to be heard. Someone comes seeking Islamic justice and is told there is no Kadhi available and asked to return later. This is not fair,” he said.
Uasin Gishu resident Arif Muhammed, who led the students during the competitions, said delays in resolving family disputes were affecting households.
“We see families suffering. Mothers are denied child support, while inheritance disputes continue for years because there is no Kadhi to make a determination. We are asking the government to listen to our concerns,” Muhammed said.
Imam Abdulaziz Muhammed of Masjid AP also called on the JSC to fill vacant positions and increase the number of Kadhi judges according to the needs of different counties.
“We urge the JSC to act quickly. Filling vacant positions and increasing the number of Kadhi judges according to the needs of each county will help people access services on time and with dignity,” he said.
The calls were made alongside the religious education event, which brought together more than 100 students from Madrasa Tul Hudaa.
The students competed in various areas of Islamic studies, including Quran memorisation, Fiqh and Hadith. Those who performed well received certificates during the ceremony attended by hundreds of worshippers.
Organisers said the competitions were intended to encourage young Muslims to pursue religious education and develop a strong foundation in Islamic teachings.
“We want to promote Islamic education among the current generation. Recognising these students is meant to encourage them to continue learning and prepare them to become better leaders in the future,” one of the teachers said.
The religious leaders said Kadhi’s courts are constitutionally recognised institutions and argued that Muslims should be able to access their services without unnecessary delays.
They maintained that increasing the number of Kadhi judges would help reduce the backlog of cases and improve access to justice for Muslims across the country.