By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
4 May 2026 - Religious leaders in Garissa have strongly opposed the county’s plan to integrate Duksi into Early Childhood Development Education, warning that they fear the proposal may be driven by hidden motives aimed at undermining the traditional religious learning system.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of al Manar Madrasah, the leaders told the county to concentrate on their mandate and keep off religious matters.
Speaking on behalf of other religious institutions within the county, Sheikh Hassan Abdi of Supreme council of Kenya Muslims noted that the Kenya constitution has given everyone their rights to a religion and they would not allow anyone to interfere with that.
Duksi is a foundational religious institution for young children, particularly in Somali-dominated areas. Children as young as five begin learning the Qur'an, with some committing it to memory at an early age.
“Since Qur'an is part and parcel of Muslim community, anyone trying to interfere should abstain because it’s the freedom that our constitution gave us,” he said.
The prominent cleric noted that the county government has failed their function including providing clean and affordable water and there is nothing tangible that they will make to Duksi when integrated.
Local religious leaders were two weeks ago called to a workshop in Dadaab by Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the organisation sponsoring the initiative, where the idea was fronted.
The clerics opposed the idea sensing ulterior motives that would make the informal early Qur'an education obsolete.
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Abdiweli Aden Abdullahi the Saka Ward representative who is the education committee chair at the Assembly, said the Bill is still at the Executive level and the assembly is yet to receive it.
He confirmed a stakeholders meeting in Dadaab convened by LWF that he said they only facilitated it but the idea actually came from the education department at the county executive.
Appearing to defend the initiative the Saka ward representative said the initiative is not that bad because when it is integrated, the responsibility of payment of salaries of the Duksi teachers will be taken over by the county government.
He added that some clerics supported the initiative, adding that the entire Bill may not be bad but can be amended.
“We are also part and parcel of this community, if we note anything that has negative impacts on our communities, we are going to reject it at the Assembly,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said there was an initiative by the national government to do an integration but this one fronted by an non-government organisation, he noted, appears to be different.
He asked the ward representative to concentrate on the current devolved functions instead of focusing on issues outside their mandate that could have community repercussions.
“Leave alone Duksi matters. Currently people are facing issues including lack of water and other issues. Please I besiege you to leave these issues that affects muslims community,” he said.