The Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa (KCIU) is a national network of Imams and Islamic scholars. The council has the overall aim of contributing to social development in the country and linking Imams with other Islamic scholars with a view to cascading Islamic teachings to the congregations. Therefore, the council provides the crucial opportunity for the Imams and Scholars to interact and exchange ideas and to get feed-back from Muslim faithful on various theological, social and development issues.

KCIU has regional offices in each of the eight provinces in Kenya, namely Eastern, Coast, North Eastern, Nairobi, Central, Nyanza and Rift Valley. The council works nation-wide as a faith-based organization, addressing itself to internal theological issues such as Madrassa and as a conventional non-profit organization. As a faith-based organization, KCIU has logically entered humanitarian service in the country. The primary reason for contributing to the social welfare of Kenyans relates to the fact that poverty, need, social problems and social exclusion respects no religion. Additionally, Islamic teachings point to service to humanity as very important in this life. Therefore in her humanitarian services, KCIU works with Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Council is locally constituted and represents an important local Muslim entity mobilizing resources in furtherance of social development in the country.

The Kenya Council of Imams and Ulamaa (KCIU) was established in 1996 and registered in 2001 under the Societies Act as a network of Imams and scholars (Ulamaa) in Kenya. As already indicated KCIU works through the regional offices in each province. The Rift Valley Regional Office was established in 2004. The regional offices are semi-autonomous and have their own boards of management. They also raise their own resources and run programs of the variety and numbers that match the resources they are able to raise. For this reason, some branches are big in terms of programs in place and the number of staff running them, while others are small and almost moribund. The Rift Valley Branch is vibrant and runs a number of projects funded by different partners and some run in collaboration with other partners. Overall, there are changes in the leadership of the branch from time to time as a result of transfers of active members of the board and other active faithful. Being a large province and having located the council’s headquarters in Nakuru which is a busy and large town, these changes have not hindered the work of the Council in any significant manner.  

The Rift valley regional office headquarters in Nakuru town is strategic in the province. This is because from the town it is easy and convenient to carry out activities in most districts in the province, both to the north and to the south. This is particularly possible because the town is in the main economic, communication and transport hub of the province. Therefore, to the extent that life in the province mostly radiates around the town, so are the activities of the Council, enabling it to work in Narok, Kajiado, Koibatek, Samburu, Laikipia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Molo, Naivasha and Turkana Counties. The vast population in the Rift Valley province poses challenges in terms of reaching to all people in need, but also offers opportunities for creativity in dealing intractable social problems that arise in such a cosmopolitan province. The Council is mainly faith-based organization working in community development in the province and it is the first Islamic organization to operate in the social welfare field focusing on orphans and the poor. The council also provides civic education to community, but also continually and deliberately reaches out to non-Muslims in the province with advocacy and other efforts.

Religious orientation. We hold that KCIU is a faith-based organization and endeavor to integrate Religious values of humanitarianism and magnanimity to people of all faiths and none, without fear, favor or discrimination.
Integrity. We commit ourselves to the highest standards of individual and corporate honesty in our operations. The council commits to these high standards and undertakes to support employees and partners to live to the same standards as they relate to our clients, constituents and the public.
Excellence. KCIU holds that humanitarian services can be delivered with the highest level of knowledge, skill, competence and thoughtfulness, and is committed to pursue and achieve those high standards in her work.
Non – discrimination & Inclusiveness. KCIU is committed to offering her services without even an iota of discrimination and with the highest possible quality of inclusiveness. The council will treat partners and clients on the same terms.
Political Neutrality. KCIU does not subscribe to any political view locally, nationally and internationally, and commits to remaining apolitical across all political boundaries.
Sustainability. KCIU is committed to finding sustainable solutions to the social problems that it deals with and provide support and capacity development for partners, clients and the public in perpetuating good practices and excellence in project execution.
Commitment and Selflessness. KCIU thrives on total commitment to her mandate and commits to go an extra mile in putting personal gain or recognition in the back seat in her work with people.
Role Models. Recognizing that role models are rare in our society, KCIU commits to striving to perform her tasks with utmost care and create such outcomes in society as to inspire many especially young people to see sense and possibilities in serving humanity.
Dynamism. KCIU commits to continually review her strategies and approaches to the solution of the social problems and needs that it exists to address in response to and in line with changes that take place in society.
Team – spirit. KCIU recognizes that the council cannot succeed by acting on her own nor can their staff or members of the board of management succeed by acting individually. The council therefore commits to be collaborative in her endeavors and to cultivate among her staff and board members a high sense of team work in all her work.