• They asked state to allow holders of foreign passports to obtain hajj visas in Kenya
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Coast Hajj Agents are appealing to Saudi Arabia to rescind its decision to bar holders of foreign passports with valid documents from getting Hajj visas.
More than 500 holders of foreign passports will be affected by the move, according to Coast Hajj Agents.
"We are appalled by the letter we received from Supkem on short notice to the effect that this year, holders of foreign passports will not be able to get visas to go to Hajj from Kenya," Khalid Abdulrahaman, a Hajj agent in Mombasa, said.
“We are appealing on behalf of pilgrims who have entrusted us to take them to the holy city of Makkah to fulfil their religious obligation."
The agents appealed to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah through the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kenya.
In previous years, holders of foreign passports were allowed to travel to Mecca through Kenya.
The agents' appeal comes after they received a letter from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), saying that holders of foreign passports residing in Kenya will not be eligible to get visas.
The agents decried that they have already incurred expenses and the directive would jeopardise their businesses and the travellers who have already paid for the pilgrimage.
“We have already paid for air tickets, accommodation and all kinds of expenses in Makkah and Medinah," Abdularhman said.
"Getting a letter that there are no foreign passport holders that will get hajj visas from Kenya is something that has shocked us."
Abdulrahman urged pilgrims who had booked with various agents to seek divine intervention for their cry to be heard by the authorities.
“Please have mercy on us. We have already incurred expenses and if these people do not travel, we will suffer a great loss,” he said.
The annual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makkah is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith.
Millions of Muslims from across the globe throng Mecca to perform the one-in-a-lifetime religious obligation.
This year’s Hajj rituals are scheduled to start on June 25 and run to 30.