The Kenya Hajj Mission under the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has signed the protocols for the 2024 Hajj season.
The agreement was signed Sunday in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umra Affairs on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado for the Kenya Hajj Mission.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Kenya Khalid Al-Salman and Director General at the Ministry of Hajj and Umra Affairs Badr Al-Solami were among the key participants who represented the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the ceremony.
The agreement spells out the commitments and responsibilities of the parties to the accord and was signed ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.
The pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith.
The Kenyan delegation was led by the National Chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims who is also the President of the Kenya Hajj Mission Hassan Ole Naado and Secretary General Haji Salat.
Deputy chair Shariff Khitamy, Organizing Secretary Sheikh Asmani and Northeastern Regional Coordinator Sheikh Ibrahim who are also members of the Hajj Mission were also in attendance.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Hajj and Umra Affairs Abdul Fattah Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of adhering to the timelines in preparation for hajj season 2024.
The Minister stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very keen to ensure that pilgrims from all over the world receive good services to enable them to perform their hajj rituals comfortably.
He encouraged the Kenya Hajj Mission to finalize the remaining contracts with service providers that include housing both in Makkah and Medina, meals in the holy sites (Mina and Arafa) and flights.
The minister calls attention to the leadership of SUPKEM the commitment of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister His Highness Mohamed Bin Salman on matters of hajj and pilgrims.
Throughout Saudi Arabia’s transformation agenda, one thing has remained the same- the dedication of the leadership to the service to the two Holy Mosques and Pilgrims.
The Saudi Vision 2023 also aims to increase the annual of pilgrims and to provide adequate facilities and services to enrich the lifetime experience of pilgrims.
On his part, Ole Naado paid tribute to the custodian of the two Holy Mosques and the leader of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Highness Mohamed bin Salman for their commitments and efforts of ensuring that the pilgrims from all over the world including Kenya can perform their religious obligation with ease.
He thanked the Ministry of Hajj and Umra Affairs for the continued improvement of services and dedicated staff that coordinates Hajj-related activities across the globe.
Ole Naado, assured the minister of total cooperation from the Kenya Hajj Mission on behalf of the Muslim community in the Republic of Kenya.
He confirmed that 4500 Kenyans shall perform Hajj in 2024 and committed to adhere to the calendar of events as shared with the Ministry of Hajj and Umra Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ole Naado and his delegation and the members of the Kenya Hajj Mission are attending a weeklong Hajj 2024 Conference in Jeddah convened by the Ministry of Hajj and Umra Affairs to be attended by representatives of 129 countries beginning on January 8.
