Holy Circus: Inside Hajj Agents and Supkem Wars Amid Kenyan Pilgrims Mismanagement

The annual Hajj pilgrimage, a sacred journey for Muslims worldwide, has turned into a battleground of accusations and mismanagement for Kenyan pilgrims in 2025.

A heated dispute between the Kenya Hajj and Umrah Agents Association and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) has exposed deep-rooted issues in the organization of this spiritual undertaking, leaving pilgrims caught in the crossfire of a “holy circus.”

The conflict erupted when Hajj and Umrah travel agents accused Supkem of sidelining them in critical planning processes, threatening blacklisting, and interfering with their operations.

Speaking at a press conference in Mombasa on Wednesday, Abdulkadir Al Ubeid, deputy chairperson of the Kenya Hajj and Umrah Agents Association’s Coast branch, expressed frustration over their exclusion from a July 5 consultative meeting in Nairobi.

The meeting, meant to evaluate the 2024 Hajj and plan for 2026, included only 11 of Kenya’s 65 licensed agents, with most Coastal agents notably absent.

“We handled 1,800 of the 4,500 pilgrims who traveled for Hajj this year—that’s 40 percent,” Mr. Al Ubeid said.

“In previous years, we were always invited. This year, we were completely locked out. It’s unacceptable.”

The agents argue that their exclusion undermines their ability to address the challenges faced by pilgrims, including shared beds despite full payment for accommodation and a severe shortage of buses for transportation during the 2025 Hajj.

The agents further accused Supkem of overstepping its regulatory role, alleging that the council is attempting to take over their operations.

“Supkem was given the responsibility to ensure fairness, but they’re now using that power to suppress legitimate businesses,” said Khalid Abdulrahman, director of Allarrahman Travel Agency.

The agents are calling for greater transparency and inclusivity, warning that continued exclusion could harm both the industry and the spiritual welfare of Kenyan pilgrims.

Supkem, however, has dismissed these claims. National Chairperson Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado, speaking at a media briefing on May 12, 2025, defended the council’s actions, attributing the conflict to the failure of Coast-based agents to meet new Saudi government requirements.

“To run a Hajj company, you must be able to carry no fewer than 500 pilgrims. None of the Coast-based agents met that threshold,” Mr. Naado said.

He also pointed to internal divisions among the agents, noting that their inability to form a unified agency has weakened their position.

Mr. Naado confirmed that seven agents were deregistered this year—three from the Coast, three from North Eastern, and one from Nairobi—for violations including forgery, exorbitant visa fees, and abusive conduct.

“Hajj is not political; it is a religious process,” he emphasized. “We conduct evaluations to ensure standards are met.” He also refuted claims that Supkem owes money to agencies, urging aggrieved parties to seek legal recourse if necessary.

The council further addressed complaints about misleading content shared by agents, particularly videos recorded at sacred sites like Mina and Arafat.

“Some agents take videos of people worshipping and share them misleadingly,” Mr. Naado said.

“What may look chaotic is the real nature of those holy places. People who have never gone there might misunderstand it as mismanagement.”

For Kenyan pilgrims, these disputes translate into real hardships.

Reports of inadequate accommodation and transportation shortages during the 2025 Hajj have raised questions about accountability and oversight.

While Supkem insists that the Saudi government does everything within its limits to ensure comfort, the reality on the ground tells a different story for many.

As the war of words between Hajj agents and Supkem intensifies, the call for fairness and transparency grows louder.

With the 2026 pilgrimage on the horizon, both sides must find common ground to ensure that Kenyan pilgrims can focus on their spiritual journey rather than navigating a circus of mismanagement and blame.