Mr Khalfan Abdallah an expert in Islamic financing has urged the government to rethink how to accommodate Muslims in various financial support programmes such as Youth and Women Fund among others.
“The government should allow Muslims to take loans in this difficult time without much interest,” said Mr Abdallah who is a board member of Momentum Sahih Sharia compliance microfinance
Mr Abdallah said the government should borrow a leaf from Momentum Credit Micro Finance which has started offering Sharia compliance loans to Muslims using logbooks as collateral.
“Momentum Credit finance Sahih has proved it is possible and the government should explore ways in which it can finance or offer credit facilities in Sharia-compliant manner during this covid-19,” said Mr Abdallah.
The official said to bail out Muslims during these hard times, such affordable credit facilities which are sharia compliance are required.
Mr Abdallah said the new product will allow Muslims and non-muslims to do business and borrow money under Sharia Islamic laws.
He observed that Muslims and non-Muslims have different demands on finances saying “the major challenge facing Muslims during this covid-19 period is how to take loans without paying interest.”
According to Momentum Credit Chief Executive Officer, Job Muriuki the product will allow the Muslims to use their properties like vehicles to get a loan and continue using the vehicle.
Last Friday, Momentum Credit opened its first Sharia compliance branch at Eastleigh which was also the eighth branch in the country. However, most of the Muslim community are not aware of this product.
Mr Abdallah said he will use his position to ensure the community reaps big from this unique product and cushion their business against the effects of Covid-19.
“This is a new product and many people want to know how it works, and as Muslim leaders, we shall sensitise the community to take advantage of the new product,” added Mr Abdallah.
He urged the Muslim business community who are affected by Covid-19 pandemic to take advantage of Momentum Sahih products.
“These are difficult financial times and for Momentum to come up with a new product at this moment it allows its Muslim clients to use their vehicle as surety to give their businesses a shot in the arm,” said Mr Abdallah.
He said the end of Covid-19 pandemic is unpredictable with the rising positive cases in the country.
“The Muslims should seize this rare opportunity and turn around their businesses and uplift their living standards,” he added.
Mr Muriuki said the launch of Sahih which is the new product was a game-changer in the Islamic financial landscape in Kenya.
“We want to support Muslims in their commercial activities as they play a significant role in Kenya’s economy,” said Mr Muriuki.
He noted that there 5.2million Muslims in Kenya today which translates to about 11 per cent of the Kenya population.
“This is a market that has been underserved, ignored for too long and I am optimistic Momentum Sahih will change this narrative for the better of the community,” said Mr Muriuki.
He thanked Lawyer Ali Mohammed, Islamic finance expert Khalfan Geituk and Prof Mohamed Salim Badamana for being instrumental in developing financing Islamic products for Momentum Credit.
Prof Badamana who is a member of the Amana Bank and the Gulf Bank said that Sahih logbook financing alongside the opening of the Eastleigh branch of Momentum Credit in sharia compliance manner will boost the Muslim community in the region.
He urged the Muslim community to take advantage of this product as it is Sharia compliance and also the charges are fairly low and it is user friendly.