Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
2 September 2008
Nairobi — Kenyan Muslims started marking the Holy Month of Ramadhan on Monday.
Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Kassim announced the sighting of the moon to mark the start of the season.
President Mwai Kibaki sent Mulsims a message of goodwill and called for religious tolerance between Kenya's different faiths.
This year's announcement of the onset of Ramadhan was without controversy in what is believed to be efficient transmission of information that include the use of FM stations and text messages.
Sheikh Kassim said he would have made the announcement earlier had it not been for the fact that faithful jammed his phone trying to confirm the start of the fast.
Ramadhan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is considered to be one of the holiest months of the year.
The holy season begins with the sighting of the crescent moon on the evening following the new moon and lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle.
According to the Koran, Muslims are required to start the fast only after seeing the new moon. Idd-ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting and is marked by feasting and celebration.
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