NEW RULE RELEASED AHEAD OF RAMADHAN.

Muslims will have to align with new measures issued ahead of Ramadhan scheduled to begin on the evening of Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

Muslim leaders, who are tasked with leading the prayers regulations, have advised Imams and congregants in counties whose curfew is 10 p.m., to complete their prayers at exactly 9:30 pm.

The leaders also urged those in five counties including Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kiambu and Machakos to hold their prayers at home.

This, they explained, is to enable the faithfuls to get home on time.

“We have prepared ourselves. There are sanitisers in mosques, there are temperature guns and we shall ensure that social distance is kept as per the directive from the Ministry of Health,” stated an Imam.

The Imams also confirmed that they had revised their prayer schedules.

“Make sure that you have completed your prayers by 9:30 pm and the Mosques are closed. We urge all of you to go to Mosques closest to you. 

“You don’t have to go far because when you travel far, you might be arrested and end up blaming Imams which won’t be the case,” he added.

In February, the state had issued a statement through the National Treasury Cabinet secretary Ukur Yatani allowing the duty-free importation of dates during the month of Ramadhan.

Dates are dark-skinned fruits with minimal rips and tears harvested from date palm trees.

The Holy month of Ramadhan entails fasting which is among the five pillars of Islam and is observed by Muslims worldwide who break their fast at sundown every evening. They consume dates before eating any other meal during this period. 

The start of Ramadan fluctuates every year because the lunar Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon. The beginning and end are determined by a moon-sighting committee in Saudi Arabia. 

This year’s celebration will end on Wednesday, May 13.