By 'Abdul Kareem Muhammed Jimale

Correspondent, Freelance Writer - Somalia

Nairobi, Kenya, November 28, 2009 – Kenyan Muslims began their journey to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in early November.

“This year (2009), 3000 Kenyan Muslims are expected to perform Hajj. About 2000 pilgrims left for Hajj this year, most of them from Nairobi” Sheikh Hussein Sharif Omar Al-Hamid the vice chairman of Kenya Hajj Commission told Islamonline.net

Sheikh Hussein added last year 2700 pilgrims left for Hajj pilgrimage most of them from the North East, East and the Coast, but this year, those provinces recorded the lowest number of pilgrims because of the devastating droughts that have affected those areas.

Recently, the government of Kenya removed the Hajj desk at Immigration offices in Nairobi after it emerged that it was misused.

Sheikh Hussein said the desk was removed after the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons discovered that some people travelled to the US or other countries after acquiring their passports; as Kenyan pilgrims going on Hajj get their passports more easily now than before.

Somalis going to Hajj

Somalis in lawless war-torn Somalia, which suffers from 20 years of anarchy, are joining millions of Muslim faithful in the Hajj pilgrimage even though there is no clear statistics that reflect the exact number of pilgrims.

Somalia, like the rest of Horn of African countries is experiencing worst droughts, which is compounded with inadequate humanitarian assistance, armed conflict, increased poverty and hunger but still a large number of Muslims are going to Hajj pilgrimage.

According to Ahmed Hassan, of Somalia’s Jubba airways, an estimated 4000 people leave for Hajj from all corners of Somalia annually.

Kenya and Somalia, Pilgrims Vaccinating

Sheikh Hussein Sharif Omar told the Standard “Pilgrims are expected to get vaccinated with the influenza vaccine, as Kenya is yet to acquire the H1N1 vaccine.

Health Ministry of the Somalia’s transitional government started a vaccination campaign in the restive capital Mogadishu, targeting Hajj Pilgrims who are faced with the possibility of contracting the H1N1 virus during their pilgrimage. The vaccine comes in the form of injections given in the muscle to help stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to resist H1N1 in case of entry of the virus into the human body. 

Qamar Aden ‘Ali, Somalia’s health minister told the reporters on Saturday, 14 November that her ministry in conjunction with World Health Organisation has launched a vaccination drive targeted on Pilgrims. 

“The health authorities of the Somali government in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) are carrying out HINI vaccination on the pilgrims going to Hajj,” said ‘Ali adding that a legal identification health book is issued to every vaccinated pilgrim.

She urged travel agencies not to carry pilgrims who do not have legal identification health books from the Ministry of Health. However, the vaccination exercise is only carried out in Mogadishu while pilgrims from other Somali regions such as breakaway Somaliland travel without the vaccine.

According to Sheikh Hussein Sharif, the vice chairman of Kenya Hajj Commission the government is not involved in any HINI vaccination drive for Hajj pilgrims. 

Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for all Hajj and ‘Umrah pilgrims from across the globe to take vaccinations against such endemic diseases as meningitis, yellow fever and polio prior to embarking on the pilgrimage.

Muslim Leaders Appealed to Travel Agencies 

Travel agencies in Kenya have been involved in a cutthroat business in the transportation pilgrims.

“$2500 US dollars was Hajj package offer for pilgrims leaving for Hajj pilgrimage last year but this year it is $3000 US dollar” Hassan Mo’alim Mohamed, the director of Alla Uun Travel agency in Nairobi told IOL. 

Mohamed claims that the financial crisis which brought the world market to its knees is being felt in the region, adding that situation is the same in war-torn Somalia. 

“Last year it was $2300 US dollar for Pilgrims in Somalia but this year it went up to $2800 US dollar”

Sheikh Muhammad Swalihu, the Imam of Jamia Mosque, the largest Mosque in Kenya appealed to Hajj travel agencies to exercise justice, and offer suitable services to the pilgrims. Swalihu called on upon the agencies to regard their ventures as a religious activity rather than a commercial business engagement. He expressed regret that some of the agents were offering a raw deal to the pilgrims despite charging them exorbitant fees.

Pilgrims Urged to Address Muslims' Affairs on Hajj 

Muslim pilgrims who would take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage ritual have been urged to embrace the spirit of occasion, and utilize the event to address the challenges facing Muslims worldwide.

Sheikh Muhammad Osman, a member of the Majlis Ulamaa Kenya, when he delivered the Friday, 13 - November Khutbah (sermon) at Jamia Mosque said that many people have today lost touch with the real objectives of Hajj, saying that they are performing it as a mere customary practice.

“Muslims should utilize this opportunity to find out the problems affecting other Muslims and come up with remedies on how we can solve them”, Osman advised.

'Abdul Kareem Muhammed Jimale is a correspondent for IOL based in Kenyan. He is also a correspondent for Radio Shabelle, and the Somali Garowe Online. 

Source: Islam Online, Nov 24, 2009

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