Leaders of the Muslim faith have clashed on Twitter, differing on when Eid al-Adha should be marked.
Through the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government, declared Tuesday, August 21, 2018 a public holiday.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i said this would allow Kenyans of the Muslim faith mark Eid al Adha.
This is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr), and considered the holier of the two.
Also known as the 'feast of sacrifice' Eid al-Adha honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Isaac as an act of obedience to God’s command.
Eid al-Adha 2018 in Kenya will begin in the evening of Tuesday, 21 August and end in the evening of Wednesday, 22 August.Chief Kadhi Sheikh Ahmad Muhdhar, slammed Matiang'i saying he ought to have made Wednesday a public holiday and not Tuesday.According to him, Kenyan Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Wednesday and not Tuesday.
However, Garissa Township MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale threatened to petition the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to take disciplinary action against Muhdhar for slamming the Interior CS.
"Chief Khadhi is out of order and should not fault Cabinet Secretary Matiangi on Idd ul-Adha holiday date. This will divide Muslims,” tweeted Duale, sentiments that were echoed by lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi.
“I agree with you...the Chief Khadi must be dismissed... either he is incompetent or plainly reckless…” said Ahmednassir in support of Duale.
However, one Suleiman Dube defended the Chief Kadhi, saying: “Who are you to interfere with chief kadhi’s decision? Mind your tongue. Keep off. This is not politics."
Sheikh Khalifa Mohamed, the organising secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) hailed the government for announcing Eid al-Adha as a public holiday.
With Mombasa and the larger Coast region being the region with many Muslim faithful in the country, several religious and political leaders are expected to converge for the feast in various areas.
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