AG appoints panel to nominate Waqf commission

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has appointed a five-member selection panel tasked with nominating suitable candidates for appointment to the Waqf Commission, a key body responsible for the management and administration of Islamic charitable endowments in Kenya.

The appointments were formalised through a gazette notice dated December 15, 2025, issued pursuant to section 7(1) of the Waqf Act.

The notice marks a significant step toward operationalising the commission, which has faced delays since the law came into force in March 2022.

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According to the gazette notice, Mohammed Alaw Hussun has been appointed chairperson of the selection panel.

The other members are Sheikh Hassan Ali Amin, Shoaib Vayani, Sumaya Hassan and Hannan Hassan El-Kathiri.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (1) of the Waqf Act, the Attorney-General appoints the Chaiperson and Members of the Selection Panel for the purpose of nominating suitable candidates for appointment as Members of the Waqf Commission," the notice reads.

In gazetting the appointments, Attorney General Oduor signalled renewed momentum in the implementation of the Waqf Act, which provides a legal framework for the regulation and management of Waqf property.

Waqf refers to the permanent donation of assets such as land, buildings or other property for Muslim religious, social or charitable purposes, with no intention of reclaiming the donated assets.

The Waqf Commission plays a central role in safeguarding these endowments by ensuring their proper administration and addressing legal and governance challenges.

Its establishment is intended to bring clarity, accountability and structure to the sector.

Under the Waqf Act, 2022, the commission is mandated to register all Awqaf in the country and to administer and manage Waqf properties registered under the Act.

It is also responsible for supervising the efficient and effective management of these properties and ensuring full compliance with the law.

The law further provides that the Waqf Commission shall consist of a chairperson appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, alongside six other members also appointed by the Cabinet Secretary on the recommendation of the Muslim community.

In addition, the commission includes representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, the National Treasury and Planning, and the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.

The selection panel appointed by the Attorney General is therefore a critical step in constituting the commission, as it will determine the pool of candidates to be considered for appointment.

President William Ruto has previously assured the Muslim community that the issues surrounding Waqf would soon be resolved under the current Attorney General.