Sharp disagreements have emerged among Kenyan Muslims over when to begin fasting for Ramadan, following the Chief Kadhi's office announcement to sight the moon on Tuesday, February 17. Leaders like Sheikh Abubakar Bini and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Fatwa have opposed it, stating the moon should be sighted on Wednesday, February 18. This could lead to Muslims starting the fast on different days.
Disagreements among Kenyan Muslims have surfaced regarding the correct timing to start fasting for Ramadan. The Chief Kadhi's office announced on Friday, February 12, that Muslims are urged to sight the moon (hilal) on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, and submit verified reports to the phone number 0794339467. If the moon is sighted on Tuesday, fasting will begin on Wednesday, February 18; if not, Ramadan starts on February 19.
However, other leaders have rejected the announcement. Sheikh Abubakar Bini, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers (CIPK) in the North Rift region, stated that previous chief kadhis had agreed to sight the moon on the 29th of Shaban, which is Wednesday, February 18, to promote Muslim unity. "The Chief Kadhi should stop misleading Muslims by saying we start sighting the moon on Tuesday, which is the 28th of Shaban. There is no moon that day and it does not follow religion, so which moon would we be sighting? Why is he going against the previous kadhis who served?" Bini said. He urged Muslims to sight the moon on Wednesday and begin fasting on Thursday.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Fatwa has also opposed it, stating the moon should be sighted starting from the evening of Wednesday, the 29th of Shaban 1447. "Let us all sight the moon starting from the evening of Wednesday, which is the 29th of Shaban 1447," the council's statement said. "Anyone who sights the moon should inform the council or through recognized imams or religious leaders," it added.
These differences could result in Muslims from various regions starting the fast at different times. Muslims in northern Kenya have a tradition of following Saudi Arabia's announcement, while those on the Coast and other areas follow experts from Tanzania, Zanzibar, and East Africa. Previous chief kadhis had reached agreements for regional moon sighting to ensure unity, and this also relates to the completion of Ramadan fasting and the Eid Ul-Adha holiday on June 5 or 6.