Free air tickets from the Saudi Arabia meant for poor Kenyan Muslims who wish to travel to Mecca for Hajj do not reach the targeted persons, a Muslim organisation has said.
Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council on Wednesday said in most cases those who benefit from the free tickets are people with means.
“The tickets from the Saudi Arabian king end up being sold at a cheaper price to people who can actually afford air tickets to Mecca,” said Kemnac chair Sheikh Juma Ngao.
He spoke during a press conference at a hotel in Mombasa.
The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage made to the ‘Kaaba’, the "House of God", in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
It is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah, Salat, Zakat and Sawm.
It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim faithful and their submission to God.
The Hajj is considered a mandatory religious duty for a Muslim that must be carried out at least once in one's lifetime.
Sheikh Ngao said those charged with issuing the tickets end up giving them to relatives instead of poor Muslims who would like to travel to Mecca for Hajj.
He, however, said Kemnac will soon establish mechanisms which will ensure the free air tickets benefit the intended poor in society.
The air tickets are usually issued to some Muslim organisations in the country, charged with identifying the needy who desire to travel to Mecca for Hajj.
“We will investigate the bodies that are charged with this duty of distributing the free tickets and establish how they distribute them," Ngao said.
“We will then come up with a report and send the report to the Saudi King for his consideration.”
He said many Muslim organisations in Kenya are riddled with corruption.
“When they request for funds or favours, they do it on behalf of Muslims. When they get the funds or favours, they only remember their own stomachs and families,” Sheikh Ngao said.
He said other Islamic nations like Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey and Oman should be careful when they give aid to Kenya through Muslim organisations.
“Follow up on your aid. Many end up not serving the purpose for which you intend,” Sheikh Ngao told the helping nations.
He said some of the Muslim bodies are fighting cases in court and at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission because of corruption.
Kemnac welcomed the agreement by Saudi Arabia to reopen land, air and sea links with Qatar.
According to Kuwaiti government, which has been mediating the dispute, Saudi Arabia has agreed to lift the blockade against Qatar thereby de-escalating a feud that had sharply divided the Middle East for over three years.
Qatar’s only land border has been mostly closed since mid-2017 when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain launched the blockade against Qatar.
Edited by Henry Makori