http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Mombasa pilgrims jam airport for Hajj tri [The Source: www.nation.co.ke/Mombasa - 20/11/2009] A sea of humanity jammed Mombasa’s Moi International Airport on Wednesday evening as the largest group of 270 Muslims pilgrims left the country for the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah. The airport international departure lounge was filled up with relatives and friends of the pilgrims who had come to see them off as they jet out of the country for the annual holiest event in the Islamic calendar.Various Hajj agents were also hooked up in activities sorting out travel documents for the pilgrims who were clad in their special Hajj outfits.Men wrapped a white piece of white cloth round their waist while a second one covered their stomachs with a sheaf thrown back while women dressed in their usual bui bui but covered their neck with a white piece of cloth akin to a scarf.Mr Mohammed Hamis Juma Bhallo, the kingpin of Swahili community Taarab music was among the pilgrims who were at Moi International airport.The master of Taarab song commonly known by his fans as“Bhallo” told Nation hat he expected God’s forgiveness at the end of his pilgrimage and asked Muslims to stick to the teaching of the religion.“This is my first journey for the holy city, I am not going for business, I am there to seek mercy of ALLAH and may his mercy be upon all of us,” he said.Mr Bishar Ibrahim Elmi, a Kenya power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC) employee called on other state and private agencies to let their Muslims workers perform Hajj.“KPLC gave me leave to perform Hajj and I will pray for my bosses and the organization to prosper, let other organization follow suit. It is a healthy affair to hive your busy schedule for God,” he said.Mr Elmi who was in accompany of his mother, also lamented over high cost of Hajj this year compared to the past and asked Kenya government to provide incentive to pilgrimsMs Maimuna Jaffar urged women in stable financial position to perform Hajj in order to cleanse their souls instead of spending their wealth on worldly affairs that doesn’t not add any value to their lives,Mr Ali-Amin Ganzel, a Malindi based Hajj agents asked Kenya airways management to consider resuming Middle East routes to ease travel problem Kenya pilgrims undergone every year while intending to go for Hajj.He said due pilgrims from Coast and neigbouring regions in North Eastern province were forced to travel by road to Nairobi to catch foreign planes operating along the Middle East route that land in Kenya to pick up passengers.“Some are forced to travel by Ethiopia Airlines that operate between Nairobi and Addis Ababa before proceeding for Jeddah and that is long journey pilgrims spend time on air,” said Mr Mahmoud Ali.The vacuum that has been left by Kenya Airways has created room for Ethiopia, Yemen and Saudia Airplanes competing for 3000 pilgrims visiting Saudia Arabia this yearAbout 80 women pilgrims were part of those who boarded the plane while a second group of about 100 pilgrims left the country this morning from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.