By Issa Hussein - Reporter
June 15, 2026 - For 49-year-old Hussein Salat, a father of 10 from Kenya, standing before the Holy Kaaba was more than a religious obligation fulfilled. It was the culmination of a decade-long dream.
Among the more than 5,000 Kenyans who performed Hajj this year, Hussein's story mirrors the spiritual aspirations, sacrifices and challenges experienced by thousands of Muslims who travelled to Saudi Arabia for one of Islam's five pillars.
"It was over 10 years of preparation and saving before I finally achieved this journey," Hussein said shortly after completing the pilgrimage. "It was complete spiritual nourishment visiting a holy land that I only knew by name and learning about its history."
The 2026 Hajj, which drew approximately 1.7 million pilgrims from across the world, concluded with Muslims completing a series of rituals in the holy cities of Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat.
For Hussein, the most emotional moments came while visiting sites central to Islamic history.
"As a Muslim, visiting the Holy Kaaba, the direction I have faced during my five daily prayers throughout my life, remains my most memorable experience," he said. "Visiting Mount Hira, where the first revelation of the Quran descended to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), made me sob. It was something I had longed for since childhood."
Beyond the religious significance, Hussein said the sight of millions of pilgrims dressed in simple white garments left a lasting impression.
"Joining 1.7 million pilgrims all dressed in two pieces of cloth regardless of status was inspiring. It demonstrated equality among mankind before Allah," he said.
Many Kenyan pilgrims praised Saudi authorities for the management of this year's pilgrimage, particularly crowd control measures in the densely populated ritual sites.
Hussein noted that movement of pilgrims in Mina and Muzdalifah was well coordinated and that hospitality services had improved compared to previous years.
He also commended officials from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), who remained in Saudi Arabia throughout the pilgrimage to coordinate the welfare of Kenyan pilgrims.
The Kenyan Hajj mission was led by SUPKEM National Chairman Hassan Ole Naado and Secretary-General Abdullahi Salat, who worked alongside volunteers, government officials and service providers to support pilgrims during the weeks-long exercise.
Speaking on his final day in Saudi Arabia, SUPKEM Chairman Hassan Ole Naado described the 2026 pilgrimage as a significant milestone but acknowledged that challenges remain.
Addressing Kenyan pilgrims and stakeholders, Naado said the mission had spent months engaging Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah officials and service providers to ensure smooth arrangements for Kenyan pilgrims.
He thanked the Saudi government, Kenya's Consulate in Jeddah led by Ambassador Aden Mohamud Mohamed, and registered Hajj agents for their contribution to the success of the pilgrimage.
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"The modest success we celebrate today as Kenyans has not come without sacrifice," Naado said.
According to the SUPKEM chairman, the council has intensified efforts to reform Kenya's Hajj management system and tackle cartels that have allegedly dominated the process for more than three decades.
"The mission has confronted long-standing challenges posed by cartels that have dominated the Hajj process for over three decades. We are currently facing legal challenges due to our decisive actions, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing quality service and ensuring that the Hajj process is free from manipulation," he said.
Despite the largely successful pilgrimage, concerns emerged over the treatment of some pilgrims by travel agents.
Hussein alleged that about 40 Kenyan pilgrims experienced difficulties after being mishandled by agents, and called on SUPKEM to take stronger action against firms that fail to honour their commitments.
"Pilgrims should be protected from agents who exploit them after collecting their money," he said.
The concerns come a year after SUPKEM blacklisted several Hajj and Umrah agencies following complaints from Kenyan pilgrims about poor accommodation and service standards during the 2025 pilgrimage.
Naado echoed similar concerns, urging prospective pilgrims to only deal with registered Hajj agencies.
"We will announce the registered agencies within the week to initiate preparations for Hajj 2027. Please ensure that you only engage with registered Hajj agencies to avoid potential fraud," he said.
Even as pilgrims prepared to return home, attention had already shifted to next year's pilgrimage after Saudi authorities formally opened preparations for Hajj 2027.
Naado urged Kenyans intending to perform Hajj next year to begin preparations early to secure limited slots allocated to the country.
For Hussein, however, the journey's greatest reward cannot be measured in logistics or numbers.
After years of sacrifice and saving, he left the holy land with memories he says will remain with him forever.