Kenya

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010

Religious Law

English

We, the people of Kenya -
ACKNOWLEDGING the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation:
… (Preamble)
Swahili

Sisi, watu wa Kenya -
TUKIKIRI ukuu wa Mungu Mwenyezi muumbaji wa viumbe vyote:
… (Utangulizi)

Religious Law

English

There shall be no State religion. (Art. 8)
Swahili

Hakutakuwa na dini ya serikali. (Kifungu cha 8)

Religious Law

English

...
(4) The provisions of this Chapter¹³ on equality shall be qualified to the extent strictly necessary for the application of Muslim law before the Kadhis’ courts, to persons who profess the Muslim religion, in matters relating to personal status, marriage, divorce and inheritance.
… (Art. 24)
Swahili

...
(4) Vifungu katika Sura hii kwa usawa vitatumika kwa kiwango ambacho ni lazima kabisa kutumia sharia ya Kiislamu mbele ya mahakama za Kadhi, kwa watu ambao ni waumini wa dini ya Kiisilamu, katika maswala yanayohusu hadhi binafsi, ndoa, talaka na urithi.
… (Kifungu cha 24)

Religious Law

English

...
(4) Parliament shall enact legislation that recognises—
(a) marriages concluded under any tradition, or system of religious, personal or family law; and
(b) any system of personal and family law under any tradition, or adhered to by persons professing a particular religion,
to the extent that any such marriages or systems of law are consistent with this Constitution. (Art. 45)
Swahili

...
(4) Bunge litatunga sheria inayotambua-
(a) ndoa zilizofungwa chini ya utamaduni wowote, au mfumo wa sheria za kidini, za binafsi au za familia; na
(b) mfumo wowote wa sheria binafsi au familia chini ya utamaduni wowote, au inazingatiwa na watu ambao ni waumini wa dini fulani,
kwa kiwango kwamba ndoa yoyote ya namna hiyo au mifumo ya sheria haipingani na Katiba hii. (Kifungu cha 45)

Religious Law

English

(1) There shall be a Chief Kadhi and such number, being not fewer than three, of other Kadhis as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to hold or act in the office of Kadhi unless the person—
(a) professes the Muslim religion; and
(b) possesses such knowledge of the Muslim law applicable to any sects of Muslims as qualifies the person, in the opinion of the Judicial Service Commission, to hold a Kadhi’s court.
(3) Parliament shall establish Kadhis’ courts, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by legislation, subject to clause (5).
(4) The Chief Kadhi and the other Kadhis, or the Chief Kadhi and such of the other Kadhis (not being fewer than three in number) as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament, shall each be empowered to hold a Kadhi’s court having jurisdiction within Kenya.
(5) The jurisdiction of a Kadhis’ court shall be limited to the determination of questions of Muslim law relating to personal status, marriage, divorce or inheritance in proceedings in which all the parties profess the Muslim religion and submit to the jurisdiction of the Kadhi’s courts. (Art. 170)
Swahili

(1) Kutakuwa na Kadhi Mkuu na idadi hiyo, hiatakuwa chini ya Makadhi wengine watatu, kama inavyoweza kuamriwa chini ya Sheria ya Bunge.
(2) Mtu hatakuwa na sifa ya kuteuliwa kushikilia au kufanya kazi katika ofisi ya Kadhi isipokuwa mtu huyo—
(a) ni muumini wa dini ya Kiislamu; na
(b) anayo maarifa ya sheria ya Kiislamu inayotumika kwa madhehebu yoyote ya Waislamu yanayompa sifa mtu huyo, kwa maoni ya Tume ya Huduma ya Mahakama, ya kushikilia mahakama ya Kadhi.
(3) Bunge litaunda mahakama za Kadhi, ambazo kila moja itakuwa na mamlaka na madaraka yatakayotolewa na sheria, kwa mujibu wa ibara ya (5).
(4) Kadhi Mkuu na Makadhi wengineo, au Kadhi Mkuu na baadhi ya Makadhi wengine (hawatakuwa chini ya idadi ya watu watatu) kama inavyoweza kuamriwa chini ya Sheria ya Bunge, kila mmoja atawezeshwa kushikilia mahakama ya Kadhi yenye mamlaka ndani ya Kenya.
(5) Mamlaka ya Mahakama ya Kadhi yatakuwa na mipaka itakayoishia katika kuamua shauri la sheria ya Kiisilamu inayohusiana na hadhi binafsi, ndoa, talaka au urithi katika kesi ambazo kwazo pande zote ni waumini wa dini ya Kiislamu na wanaitii mamlaka ya mahakama za Kadhi. (Kifungu cha 170)

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010 (English). According to Art. 7: "… 2. The official languages of the Republic are Kiswahili and English. …"

Constitution of the Republic of Kenya 2010 (Swahili). UN Women in-house translation (2020).

Links to all sites last visited 14 February 2024

According to Art. 260: “‘Affirmative action’ includes any measure designed to overcome or ameliorate an inequity or the systemic denial or infringement of a right or fundamental freedom;...”.

According to Art. 248: “(2) The commissions are— (a) the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission; (b) the National Land Commission; (c) the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission; (d) the Parliamentary Service Commission; (e) the Judicial Service Commission; (f) the Commission on Revenue Allocation; (g) the Public Service Commission; (h) the Salaries and Remuneration Commission; (i) the Teachers Service Commission; and (j) the National Police Service Commission.”

According to Art. 260: “‘Affirmative action’ includes any measure designed to overcome or ameliorate an inequity or the systemic denial or infringement of a right or fundamental freedom;...”.

Chapter 4 on Bill of Rights.

According to Art. 260: “‘Affirmative action’ includes any measure designed to overcome or ameliorate an inequity or the systemic denial or infringement of a right or fundamental freedom;...”.

Chapter 4 on Bill of Rights.