Former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has warned Chief Justice Martha Koome against appointing ladies to head Kadhi courts in the country.
Speaking on Saturday, Duale noted that the Islam religion is different from Christianity; therefore, Lady Justice Koome should not use her milestone as the first female Kenyan Chief Justice, to appoint females to Kadhi Courts.
Duale noted that in the Islam faith, the position of the woman is respected adding that ladies have been allocated special roles in society.
“As a Muslim leader, we will not accept a female Kadhi. It is not found in the Koran. It is not found in the teachings of the Prophet… Islam has a special place for women and it has given women roles to execute in the society.
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File Image of Chief Justice Martha Koome
“I would like to tell CJ Koome that if she was appointed Chief Justice it does not mean that we also have a female kadhi… Do not interfere with how the Muslim religion is run in this country the same way we will not interfere with the Christian faith. We must respect religion leaders if you want Kenya to be a good country,” Duale said as quoted by a local daily.
Duale made the remarks after a section of Muslim leaders advocated for the appointment of ladies to head Kadhi Courts in the country.
Last week, outgoing Chief Kadhi Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar noted that ladies can be appointed to the position of Kadhi if they have learned Islamic Sharia law.
“As long as you have studied the Islamic Sharia law, you are entitled for the Kadhi position, irrespective of gender,” he said.
Sheikh Muhdhar’s remarks were echoed by the Supreme Council of Muslims in Kenya (Supkem) Coast region chair Mudhar Khitamy who argued that qualified women are also entitled to the position.
“What people need to understand is that the Kadhi Court is just a magistrate court and can be led by either a man or woman. And if a woman applies for the position, she is entitled to it,” Mudhar Khitamy said as quoted by a local daily.
