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Hajj row: Travel agents sue Supkem over arbitrary blacklisting
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims National Chairman Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado (center) with his deputy Muhndhar Shariff (left) and Secretary General Sheikh Abdullahi Salat at a media briefing on May 12, 2025.
A group of travel agents involved in organising and planning for Kenyan Muslims to attend Hajj and Umrah have sued the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) for allegedly excluding their agencies from next year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
The travel agents claim that Supkem, which they have sued through its officials, has disregarded the sanctity of the event by unfairly sidelining their agencies for Hajj 2026/1447. The year 1447 refers to the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, while 2026 corresponds to the Gregorian calendar.
In their petition filed at the High Court in Mombasa, the agents seek a declaration that Supkem’s actions infringed on their constitutional rights. The petitioners are Al Saadah Hajj and Umra Agency Ltd, Al Buraq Hajj and Umra Ltd, Al Haramain Agencies, Hisar Travel Agent, Al Ubeidy Travel and Tour Ltd, and Bafagih Hajj and Umrah Agency.
They claim Supkem arbitrarily and without due process blacklisted their agencies, failing to provide explanations or give them a fair hearing over allegations of misconduct and negative media campaigns.
The petitioners further accuse Supkem of lacking accountability to the public and ignoring criticism from Muslims regarding the management of Hajj and Umrah.
They want the court to declare that by failing to register them among accredited Hajj agents for Hajj 2026/1447, Supkem acted improperly, failed to discharge its statutory duty, and breached the Constitution.
The agents also say their efforts to seek clarification from Supkem went unanswered, despite responding to its letters.
According to the petition, during the Hajj pilgrimage in May, many Kenyan pilgrims raised concerns about Supkem’s arrangements for accommodation, tents, food, and transport in Saudi Arabia, despite deposits having been paid as early as November.
“The situation led pilgrims to believe that the respondent was not working in their best interests, as they described the living conditions as inhumane and unfavorable,” the petition reads in part.
The petitioners argue that pilgrims’ complaints and subsequent online criticism of Supkem’s handling of Hajj 2025 were independent expressions of dissatisfaction and should not have been attributed to their travel agencies.
They further claim that upon return from Hajj, Supkem issued letters to directors of Al Saadah Hajj and Umra Agency and Al Miraj Hajj and Umra—groups comprising 10 and six agencies respectively—threatening that unless certain directors were removed, the other agencies would not be considered for Hajj 2026.
“The travel agents had no other option but to comply with the arbitrary decision by the respondent to remove the names of the petitioners so that they may be considered as travel agents for Hajj 2026,” the petition states.
The agents argue that Supkem’s decision has deprived them of their main source of income, as they rely on Hajj and Umrah travel services for their livelihoods.
They also challenge Supkem’s directive requiring each agent to make a deposit of USD 1,300 (Sh167,700) per pilgrim by August 22, 2025, warning that the early deadline will lock out many pilgrims and their agents.
“The action of issuing a deadline so soon after Hajj has just concluded is impractical and will effectively lock multiple pilgrims and their travel agents out,” the petitioners say.
The agents now want the court to declare their exclusion unlawful and null and void. They are also seeking orders compelling Supkem to reinstate them on the list of accredited Hajj agents for 2026/1447 and to stop harassing them in the course of their business.
In addition, they are asking for conservatory orders requiring Supkem to register them as accredited travel agents for the Kenya Hajj Mission 2026/1447 pending the determination of the case.
In the North Rift, The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Supkem are embroiled in a bitter dispute over allegations of corruption and mismanagement during the recent Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"Supkem dissolution"
The council has demanded the immediate dissolution of Supkem, accusing it of failing to ensure the welfare of Kenyan pilgrims despite the substantial fees they paid. According to CIPK, Supkem’s failures subjected many pilgrims to mistreatment and harsh conditions during the 2025 pilgrimage in June.
Sheikh Abubakar Bini, CIPK North Rift chair, said Kenyan pilgrims endured “substandard conditions” despite paying significant sums for travel and accommodation.
“Supkem has failed Kenyan Muslims who travelled to Mecca after paying huge amounts of money for their stay, only to be exposed to poor conditions,” Sheikh Bini told journalists in Eldoret.
He noted that elderly women were forced to walk long distances — in some cases over 17 kilometers daily for three consecutive days — contrary to their expectations of being accommodated closer to the holy site.
CIPK also accused Supkem of favoring wealthier pilgrims, in violation of the Quran’s teachings on equality among Muslims.
The criticism reflects growing dissatisfaction among Kenyan Muslims over the council’s handling of the sacred journey, with calls mounting for reforms to ensure pilgrims’ welfare.
Sheikh Bini further faulted Supkem’s poor planning, saying many pilgrims were placed far from the main Hajj site due to disorganisation.
“Despite paying agent fees as required, these pilgrims ended up suffering abroad. They were forced to stay far from the main venue and had to endure poor accommodation and inadequate bedding,” he said.
In response, Supkem National Chairman Hassan Naado denied responsibility for the alleged mistreatment, cautioning Muslims against politicising religious matters.
“Religious issues are not political. The Hajj is a religious obligation, not a political matter, and should not be discussed in political terms,” Naado said.
But CIPK insisted Supkem must apologise to the affected pilgrims, or else its leadership should resign.
“Supkem should apologise to Kenyans and assure us that future pilgrimages will be managed properly to avoid the suffering that has persisted for years,” Sheikh Bini added.
CIPK Uasin Gishu chair Rashid Kiplagat echoed the call for accountability, saying Supkem had failed in its duty by giving preferential treatment to the wealthy.
“We are deeply troubled by how the last Hajj was managed. It is clear that there is a serious issue with Supkem’s leadership. Pilgrims suffered greatly despite paying large sums of money,” he said.
Mr Kiplagat called for the immediate resignation of Supkem’s leadership and an independent audit into the alleged mismanagement. He also proposed amending Supkem’s constitution to require future national leaders to hold a degree in Islamic studies, similar to practices in other countries.
“If Supkem fails to address our concerns, we will have no choice but to stage national demonstrations to demand the resignation of the current leadership,” he warned.
