From Strangers to Brothers: Conquer Kili 2026

11 minutes ago

2 min read

On 17 August 2026, 42 young men from Arusha, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa and Nairobi made their way to Moshi to take part in Conquer Kili 2026 - an expedition organized by the Africa Federation's Tabligh Board (AFTAB) Societal Wellbeing Sub-Committee alongside the Africa Youth Network (AYN) and Youth Bodies of KSIJ across Arusha, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa and Nairobi.

The idea behind this expedition was simple but ambitious: put these young men in direct conversation with senior scholars; Sheikh Ali Rajani, Sheikh Raheel Khimji and Sheikh Ali-Asad, who stayed with the group for the entire climb, so they could talk openly about career, adulthood and mental health, while building real brotherhood along the way.

The route took them through Marangu Gate and up over six days, via Mandara and Horombo Huts to Kibo, before the final night push to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres. One of the most memorable moments came at Horombo, high above the clouds, where the group held a Majlis and Dua Kumayl to mark the shahadah of the 11^th Imam (‘A), a moment that, for many, anchored the whole trip in something deeper than the physical climb. Despite the cold and exhaustion, salaah in jama'ah never slipped.

From the 42 participants, 30 reached the summit; whilst the others could not due to altitude sickness. The real win was not just who made it to the top but the mentorship and brotherhood built on the way there. The Board is already looking to run it again in future years, Insha’Allah.