Preparations to usher in the Eid-ul-Fitr event which marks the end of Muslims’ holy fasting month of Ramadhan are in top gear in Garissa.
Amid confusion on when the fete is set to be observed, the chief kadhi’s office has said that it is yet to announce the famous sighting of the new moon as per the lunar calendar sometimes this week.
In Kenya, the Eid- ul-Fitr celebrations is to be marked on or before Thursday, July 7, a day that the government has already declared a public holiday, subject to the sighting of the new moon followed by subsequent announcements by the Muslim chief kadhi.
Muslim groups led by the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) together with the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (Supkem) have appealed to Muslims across the country to stay calm stating that interim committees have already been established in counties to foresee the sighting of the new moon before the office of chief kadhi issues a final and official announcement.
Supkem secretary general, Abdulghafur Al Busaidy has appealed to the chief kadhi to adhere to the East African time and not Saudi Arabian time in making the sighting. However, faithful have been major entries to shopping malls and markets to purchase goods for the festival.