NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has announced that the long-awaited establishment of Kenya’s Muslim Endowment Fund, commonly known as Waqf, will be completed by September, marking a major milestone in the implementation of the Waqf Act, 2022.
Speaking during a meeting with Muslim religious leaders at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, the President said the government had overcome earlier legal and procedural hurdles that delayed the operationalisation of the fund.
According to Ruto, while the legal framework had already been put in place, the implementation process required extensive public participation and civic awareness among Muslim communities across the country before it could proceed.
“The first process encountered some obstacles because the law required us to conduct sufficient public participation and ensure that Muslims across the country were made aware of it. That work is now complete. By September, next month, Waqf will have been finalised, and the stipulated procedures can then be followed as Islam recommends,” Ruto said.
The President’s announcement comes as the process of constituting the Waqf Commission, the body mandated to oversee the management of Islamic endowments, enters its final stages.
Public Participation Underway
On July 30, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) invited members of the public to submit comments on 35 shortlisted candidates seeking appointment to the commission.
The public was given 14 days to provide views on the nominees competing for eight available positions. The feedback will be considered by a selection panel before successful candidates are recommended for appointment in accordance with the law.
Once constituted, the commission will be responsible for registering and managing Waqf properties, supervising trustees, safeguarding endowment assets and ensuring donated property is administered in line with the wishes of donors and Islamic principles.
What Is Waqf?
Waqf is an Islamic charitable endowment system under which assets are permanently dedicated for religious, educational or community welfare purposes.
Such assets may include land, mosques, schools, cemeteries and commercial properties, with income generated from them used to finance public benefit projects such as education, healthcare, religious activities and assistance to vulnerable members of society.
The Waqf Act, 2022 established the legal framework for the management of these endowments in Kenya, providing mechanisms to improve accountability, transparency and protection of donated assets.
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