The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has named Hassan Omar Daffa as Kenya's new Chief Kadhi. The appointment ends a leadership gap of more than a year at the country's Islamic courts. The JSC announced it on Friday in a statement signed by its chairperson, Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Daffa previously served as a Principal Kadhi. Citizen Digital and KBC reported that he holds a master's degree in Source Methodology in Islamic Jurisprudence and a bachelor's degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies. Both degrees are from Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. He also has a law degree from Mount Kenya University and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
The JSC declared the post vacant on January 16, 2026. It held public participation in June, received 14 applications and shortlisted nine candidates. Interviews took place on November 2 and 3, with observers from the Muslim community invited to attend. Capital FM reported that the commission had faced scrutiny over alleged delays in completing the recruitment.
Koome said the office "occupies a unique and important place in Kenya's justice system", KBC reported. She congratulated Daffa and said the JSC remains committed to fair, competitive, transparent and merit-based recruitment. The commission thanked acting Chief Kadhi Sukyan Hassan Omar for keeping the office running during the transition. Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho also congratulated Daffa on X, People Daily reported.
Daffa succeeds Sheikh Athman Abdul-Halim Hussein, who died in Mombasa on July 10, 2025. According to The Star, Hussein was the country's 11th Chief Kadhi. He was appointed in July 2023, succeeding Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar, who retired after 12 years in the post. The JSC said Hussein served with integrity, humility and commitment to justice.
The Chief Kadhi leads all Kadhis' Courts and supervises Kadhis across the country. Under the 2010 Constitution, these courts decide questions of Muslim law on personal status, marriage, divorce and inheritance. They hear cases only where all parties profess the Muslim faith and submit to the court's jurisdiction. For Muslim families, the courts settle disputes over marriages, divorces and the sharing of estates.