Brahim Chaibi, the minister of religious affairs, has been fired following the deaths of at least 49 Tunisians due to the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia this past week.
Stampedes, tent fires and other accidents have caused hundreds of deaths during Hajj in the past 30 years, forcing the Saudi government to build new infrastructure. The authorities now face new challenges in protecting pilgrims from extreme heat.
Dressed in white, worshippers began arriving at dawn for the most challenging day of the rituals, climbing the 70-metre hill where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
A total of 3,300 Kenyan Muslims are participating in this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and are looking forward to enjoying the accommodation arrangements made by Saudi Arabia.