The race to fill eight positions in the Waqf Commission has narrowed to 35 candidates, with the Selection Panel now turning to the public for input before making its final recommendations.
The Office of the Attorney General announced the shortlist after reviewing 148 applications received following an advertisement for the vacancies in the local dailies. The application window closed on June 26, 2026.
The shortlisted candidates come from 16 counties, with Wajir emerging as the most represented county with seven candidates. Mombasa follows with six, while Lamu has four and Kilifi has three.
Kitui, Mandera and Embu each produced two shortlisted candidates. One candidate each was shortlisted from Machakos, Trans Nzoia, Tana River, Garissa, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Nairobi.
The Selection Panel has now called on members of the Muslim community and the public to provide any information they consider relevant regarding the shortlisted candidates.
“The Selection Panel invites the Muslim community to submit, in writing, within 14 days from the date of this notice, any information of interest in respect of any shortlisted candidates,” the notice states.
According to the panel, the information can be submitted either by delivering it to the Chairperson of the Selection Panel at the CBK Pension Towers in Nairobi or through the email address provided in the notice.
The panel also directed that hard copy submissions must be sealed and clearly marked "confidential."
In addition, it noted that it may interview any individual who submits information on a shortlisted candidate if such engagement is considered necessary during the vetting process.
The shortlisting follows the conclusion of the first phase of the recruitment exercise, during which applications for the eight vacancies were assessed against the set requirements.
Public participation is expected to play a key role in the remaining stages of the recruitment process before the panel forwards its recommendations for appointment.