By:Abdikadir Okash
NAIROBI—Three Kenyans have been confirmed dead in Thursday’s Mina tragedy that killed more than 700 pilgrims.
According to a press release by the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Kenyan Mission in Saudi Arabia has confirmed the death of three Kenyan pilgrims while one is nursing serious injury in Mecca hospital.
“Following the unfortunate incident in Saudi Arabia during the religious ceremony of ‘Stoning the Devil’ several pilgrims lost their lives.
”We have received information from the Kenyan Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, of three Kenyans confirmed dead, while one is seriously injured and in hospital. Families of the victims have consequently been contacted,” the statement read in part.
This year, a total of 4,950 Kenyans have travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj—the fifth pillar of Islam. “Officials in Mecca are working round the clock to account for all the Kenyans in Hajj,” the ministry said.
“The situation is being monitored closely and update will be availed as and when we receive information from the Kenyan Mission in Saudi Arabia,” the Principal Secretary, Eng. Karanja Kibicho added.
According to officials and pilgrims in Mecca, two men of Somali origin, one from the break-away administration of Somaliland and another from Kenya, have been confirmed killed in the tragedy.
“One of them was a man named Sharma’arke from Hargeisa, Somaliland while the other has reportedly travelled from Kenya,” the London-based Universal TV , which broadcasts in Somali, reported Thursday evening
