Government donates food, dates to Muslims for Ramadhan

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa hands over dates to Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) treasurer Suleiman Hassan and Organising Secretary Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa on June 21, 2016. He said the government had received a consignment of dates at the Mombasa port which would distributed to Muslims across the country. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • During Madaraka Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a tax waiver on dates in support of Muslims.
  • Mr Marwa said the tax waiver had already taken effect.
  • Sheikh Khalifa called on the government to make the tax waiver for dates an annual directive.
  • The government donated food to Muslims in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River and Taita-Taveta.

Muslims across the country will receive donations of food and dates as they fast during Ramadhan

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa said the national government had received a consignment of dates at the Mombasa port which would distributed to Muslims across the country.

He added that the dates would be ferried to Nairobi and North Eastern Kenya and then distributed to faithful through mosques.

Mr Marwa said the tax waiver on dates which was announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta during Madaraka Day in support of Muslims, had already taken effect.

At the Coast, he said, the government donated food to Muslims in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River and Taita-Taveta.

“We have received dates at the port of Mombasa which will be distributed to Muslims especially the needy, orphans and widows,” he said.

Mr Marwa said imams would distribute the food to the worshippers through their mosques.

The organising secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa, thanked the government for the donations.

He called on the government to make the tax waiver for dates an annual directive so that Muslims can benefit from it during Ramadhan.