NAIROBI, Kenya – June 2025 — A group of Muslims from various parts of Kenya is demanding justice after being allegedly defrauded by a religious leader, Imam Ustadh Omar Athman, in a failed Hajj and Umrah travel arrangement.
Victims claim they paid hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings to the Imam, who had promised to facilitate their pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. However, just days before their scheduled departure, Imam Omar disappeared, leaving many devastated and financially strained.
For Mariam Juma, the offer seemed like a dream — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform Umrah at a reduced price of Ksh.200,000. But that dream quickly turned into a nightmare. “We kept asking when we were leaving, but there was no information. He stopped answering calls,” she said.
Mariam Mohamed Ahmed sent Ksh.360,000, and her friend Barke Atieno Abdalla transferred Ksh.640,000 via her daughter — all in the hopes of making the sacred journey.
In a desperate bid for answers, Juma tracked down Omar’s sister in Malindi, where the Imam is known to preach at Al-Ihsan Mosque. “I told them I came peacefully, just return my money. I don’t want a fight,” she pleaded.
So far, eight victims have reported the incident to Lang’ata Police Station, where statements have been recorded, and an OB number issued. Among them is Hussein Hassan Ali Omar from Nakuru, who says he invested Ksh.300,000 in a similar deal back in 2020. “He’s targeting vulnerable women who have saved for years, only to be conned,” Hussein explained.
Adding insult to injury, victims say they recently saw a new Umrah trip advertisement posted on Omar’s WhatsApp status, raising fears that others may fall prey to the same alleged scam.
At the moment, Omar Athman’s phone remains switched off, and he is yet to respond publicly. His victims are calling for swift legal action and full recovery of their lost funds.
