Kenya consulate in Saudi's Jeddah city to facilitate Hajj

Kenya recently opened a consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and appointed Aden Mohamud Mohamed as the consul-general in this prominent city within the Islamic world.

The Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea is a modern commercial hub and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The consulate's opening in March followed a directive last April by President William Ruto, the aim being to facilitate travel by Muslims, particularly during the Hajj pilgrimage.

Ruto, who spoke during an Iftar event at the time, encouraged the Muslim community to persist in promoting peace, love, and compassion for all and called for prayers for Kenya as it combats various challenges.

Last May, a Kenyan parliamentary committee on defence, intelligence and foreign relations conducted a spot-check of the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh, an exercise during which Nairobi felt the need to establish a consulate in Jeddah.

A subsequent report, released last August and obtained by The Eastleigh Voice, noted that the distance between Riyadh and Jeddah is long—approximately 1,000 km.

Consequently, the committee reported that it wasn't feasible to serve this critical area, hence the need to fast-track the consulate.

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

Saudi's profile

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy based on Sunni Islam and is the largest Arab country in the Middle East. Thousands of Kenyan Muslims regularly visit for Hajj and Umrah.

Islam in Jeddah has played a fundamental role in the city's cultural, social, and political life.

Like the rest of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is overwhelmingly Muslim, with the large majority of its population adhering to the Sunni branch of Islam.

The city is also home to several religious sites and landmarks associated with Islamic history, including the oldest mosque in the city, the Uthman bin Affan, and the Salamat Mosque.

The Riyadh-led government is headed by the King, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Saudi military and, normally, the prime minister.

The official title of the king is "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," which are in Mecca and Medina. The king appointed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud as his designated successor.

In terms of trade, Riyadh is a key Middle East partner for Nairobi, with volumes increasing significantly in both directions.

In the last 27 years, Saudi Arabia's exports to Kenya have increased at an annualised rate of 14.5 per cent, from $24 million in 1995 to $929  million in 2022.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Kenya exported goods worth $104 million to Saudi Arabia in 2022. The main products were cut flowers ($41.5 million), tea ($21.4 million), and tropical fruits ($13.2 million).

Apart from facilitating Muslim pilgrimage, the consulate in Jeddah will typically provide various consular services to Kenyan citizens living in, or travelling to and from, the region.

These services may include issuing visas, assisting citizens in distress, handling legal and documentation matters such as birth registrations and notarial services, and promoting cultural and economic ties between Kenya and Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, it will often engage in diplomatic activities to represent the interests of Nairobi and foster relationships with local authorities and institutions.