First group of Kenyan pilgrims departs for Hajj in Mecca

The first group of Kenyan Muslims departed Nairobi early Monday morning, heading to Jeddah to participate in this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

A total of 300 pilgrims were seen off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Hassan Ole Nado, and the Saudi Ambassador to Kenya, Nassir Alfuraidy.

This departure marks the beginning of a phased travel plan for Kenyan pilgrims. In total, 3,300 Kenyans are expected to participate in this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Duale expressed his gratitude to various parties for their support in facilitating the journey.

He thanked the Kenyan Government, particularly the State Department of Immigration, for making passport applications and issuance easier.

The CS also acknowledged the efforts of SUPKEM and the Saudi Embassy in Kenya to ensure the timely issuance of Hajj visas.

"I extend my sincere gratitude to the Kenyan Government, through the State Department of Immigration, for facilitating passport applications and issuance, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and the Saudi Embassy in Kenya for ensuring timely issuance of Hajj visas," Duale wrote on his X account.

New consulate

Kenya recently opened a consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, appointing Aden Mohamud Mohamed as the Consul-General.

The consulate, located in the Red Sea port city which serves as a modern commercial hub and gateway to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, aims to facilitate travel for Kenyan Muslims, especially during the Hajj pilgrimage.

The consulate's opening in March followed a directive issued last April by President William Ruto.

Last May, a Kenyan parliamentary committee on defence, intelligence, and foreign relations conducted a spot-check of the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh.

This led to the decision to establish a consulate in Jeddah due to the significant distance between Riyadh and Jeddah, approximately 1,000 km.

The committee's subsequent report, released last August and obtained by The Eastleigh Voice, noted the need for a consulate to serve this critical area.

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"The rationale is that Saudi Arabia is a critical place for those who profess the Islamic faith and the two mosques, Mecca and Madinah, are on that route. Other countries like Uganda, Somalia, and Ethiopia have consulates in Jeddah," the report stated.

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims. It must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey and supporting their family during their absence.