Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has sponsored a group of 47 Imams from underprivileged areas in the City County, on their journey to Mecca to perform Hajj – the sacred Islamic pilgrimage.
The Imams departed the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, on Monday morning, marking a significant spiritual milestone in their lives.
Sakaja covered all travel and accommodation costs for the clerics.
Speaking during the send-off, Chair of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, Ustadh Hassan Amin, emphasised the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage.
“We are privileged by Allah to go and worship Him. We thank the Governor for his gesture in supporting this group. This is an honour and an important journey for every Muslim,” Amin said.
He added that Hajj is not merely a physical journey, but a profound act of humility, devotion and reflection that reinforces the core tenets of Islam and the unity of the global Muslim community.
“If you cannot say thank you to people who have done well by you, you cannot say thank you to Allah. That is why we are grateful for the Governor’s gesture in helping us embark on this important journey,” he said.
The group of imams came from various parts of Nairobi, including Kibera, Majengo, Maringo and Utawala, among others
Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it.
It represents a deeply spiritual journey of faith, equality and submission to Allah.
It takes place during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, specifically from the 8th to the 12th of the month.
Hajj commemorates the trials and faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), Hajar, and his son Ismail.
It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah (oath that one believes there is no god but Allah), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), and sawm (fasting during Ramadan).
The Hajj is taken by Muslims to cleanse their souls of all worldly sins, which connotes both the outward act of a journey after death and the inward act of good intentions.
According to the official published statistics between 2000 and 2019, the average number of attendees is 2,269,145 per year, of which 1,564,710 come from outside Saudi Arabia and 671,983 are local.
The year 2012 marks the highest number of participants with 3,161,573.
