By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 18 May 2026 - Kenyan pilgrims began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Sunday ahead of Hajj 2026, with the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) assuring faithful of improved services following last year’s complaints over accommodation and logistical challenges.
The Kenya Hajj Mission, led by SUPKEM chairman Hassan Ole Naado, inspected Mina and Arafat tents in readiness for the annual pilgrimage, saying preparations had been fully coordinated to guarantee the comfort and safety of Kenyan pilgrims.
Hassan, accompanied by Kenya’s Consul General in Jeddah Ambassador Aden Muhamud Mohamed, said the mission was satisfied with the level of preparedness ahead of the peak pilgrimage period.
“We have made necessary preparations to ensure the comfort of Kenyan pilgrims,” Mr Hassan said after the inspection.
The inspection team also included representatives from ITHRAA ALJOUD, a key service provider involved in organising accommodation and welfare support for pilgrims.
At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Kenyan pilgrims were received by officials from the Kenya Hajj Mission led by Chairman Hassan Ole Nado , SUPKEM Secretary General Sheikh Abdullahi Salat and National Treasurer Omar Khamis.
Ambassador Aden said significant improvements had been made this year to ensure Kenyan pilgrims enjoy a smooth stay during the pilgrimage.
The arrival of pilgrims comes amid heightened scrutiny of SUPKEM following grievances raised during last year’s Hajj season.
Some pilgrims and travel agents accused organisers of poor accommodation, inadequate transport arrangements and lack of access to basic amenities, with some elderly pilgrims reportedly struggling to access washrooms and water in overcrowded camps.
The controversy also exposed a bitter fallout between SUPKEM and several independent travel agencies, particularly from the Coast region, over control of the Hajj programme.
The agencies accused SUPKEM of monopolising the process, mismanaging funds and unfairly locking out smaller operators from participating in the pilgrimage arrangements.
SUPKEM, however, dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, arguing that Saudi Arabia’s Hajj regulations require companies handling pilgrimage logistics to manage at least 500 pilgrims — a threshold many smaller agencies failed to meet.
The row later attracted political attention, with Fafi MP Salah Yakub calling for investigations into the treatment of Kenyan pilgrims and demanding accountability over the management of the Hajj programme.
This year, SUPKEM says enhanced coordination, improved accommodation arrangements and stronger welfare support systems have been put in place to avoid a repeat of last year’s chaos.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws millions of Muslims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah annually, with thousands of Kenyans expected to participate in this year’s pilgrimage.
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