On Monday evening - the 29th day of Ramadhan 2024 - President William Ruto continued his tradition of hosting the Muslim community for an Iftar dinner in State House. Iftar is the the meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their fast during Ramadan. This is the second Iftar hosted by the President since coming to power.
It’s quite noticeable that President Ruto’s presidency is a fresh breath of air. Ruto imbues hope and confidence within the country’s teeming mass of unemployed, techies and sometimes well educated youths who were let down by previous regimes.
The President stressed on unity and why his administration is for all regardless of faith or social status. While addressing the gathering composed of cabinet ministers, Diplomats, senior government officials, Muslim religious leaders and the general Muslim community, the president said that “Islam is a strong faith that offers not only inspiration but also many lessons to others. The commitment of Muslims to their faith is admirable.”
Attendees of the State House Iftar dinner leveraged their direct interaction with the President to discuss issues of paramount importance to the Muslim community. Professor Abdulatif Essajee of Jamia Mosque committee, speaking on behalf of the Muslim community gathered there, appealed to the president the need for a Sheria compliant Hustler Fund so that Muslim youth and entrepreneurs could take advantage of the president’s pet project - the hustler fund - since Muslims are forbidden from interest based transactions and the president assured that the “Hustler fund will soon have a Sheria complaint component to enable the Muslim community benefit from the fund.”
Also the president reiterated his commitment to end historical injustices by declaring that “Starting Next month (May 2024) there will be no vetting for Kenyans who want to get ID cards.” Vetting has been a major impediment for a section of the Kenyan society in getting the national identity card. Most of the speakers also thanked the president for ending extrajudicial killings which have been rampant in the previous regimes. The Nubian community also welcomed the president gesture of gazetting them as one of the tribes of this country. This was long overdue.
The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua praised Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and other Muslims in charge of security dockets for helping the president in ensuring the country is safe stating that “We must admit (as Kenyans) that the people who helped the president keep the country safe are led by Muslims.”
Indeed it was a memorable event and we thank the president for inviting us to a sumptuous Iftar. Honored and humbled to have attended it.
Wishing all a happy Eid Al Fitr. Eid Mubarak to you all.
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