Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has sent out a Ramadhan Kareem message to all Kenyans of the Muslim faith, as their holy moth of Ramadan kicks-off.
Some Muslims already began fasting early this week while others are expected to begin on Friday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
The only authority mandated to announce the start and end of the fasting, Chief Khadi of Kenya, Sheikh Ahmed Sharif Al Muhdhar, said Muslims should wait for the sighting of the moon before starting to fast.
“This is what the Islamic Law states and it has nothing to do with the Government or the office of the Chief Khadi. I wonder why a section of Muslims are always in a hurry,” said Mr Muhdhar.
He disclosed that they had set up a Waqf Commission of Kenya office (a moon-sighting committee in Mombasa) to await calls from any Muslim who sighted the new moon around the country.
"I appeal to whoever will claim to have sighted the new moon to report to any Khadi’s office in the country. The person will be required to take an oath witnessed by more than two imams before the message is passed to us and an official announcement made from my office," he said.
On Tuesday, Joho wished all the best to the Muslim faithfuls, saying "a great journey of spiritual renaissance and intense reflection begins...Ramadhan Kareem and Saum Maqbul."