Hundreds of Kenyans gathered at the iconic Jamia Mosque along Banda Street on Saturday to gain insight into Islam and observe how Kenyan Muslims worship in this sacred space.

Jamia Mosque is one of the country’s historical landmarks, representing Kenya’s journey to independence.

Constructed in the early 1900s in the traditional Arab-Islamic architectural style, it features two minarets and three silver domes. Over time, the mosque has been expanded to accommodate the growing number of worshippers and now includes a library, a general hall, and a media studio.
“Jamia Mosque is an old mosque. The front part was built in 1925 by Muslims of the Indian community who were involved in the construction of the railway. You can see that the architecture inside the mosque is consistent, whether you go to Nakuru or Isiolo, as it was the same people who built it,” explained Jamaludin Osman, the mosque’s Imam.
The open day aimed to allow Kenyans of other faiths to experience what takes place inside the mosque, gain an understanding of Islam, and dispel misconceptions about the religion.

“The reason we have open days is to provide people of other faiths the opportunity to come in and ask questions openly about Islam. There are many misconceptions and a lot of misinformation about Islam. So, we are offering them the chance to come into the house of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and receive authentic answers—not from the media, social media, or the internet, but directly from us, as we are knowledgeable and can provide answers based on the holy scriptures,” the Sheikh added.

The event, according to the mosque, attracted over 700 visitors, the majority being Kenyans with a few non-Kenyans in attendance .

This was the second open day of the year as part of giving a chance to more people to visit the grand mosque.

The itinerary included a guided tour of the prayer area, a brief narration of the mosque’s history, teachings on the core beliefs of Islam, and a discussion aimed at addressing misconceptions about the faith, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome.

All visitors left with gift packs containing the Holy Quran in English translation.
The open day aimed to allow Kenyans of other faiths to experience what takes place inside the mosque, gain an understanding of Islam, and dispel misconceptions about the religion.

“The reason we have open days is to provide people of other faiths the opportunity to come in and ask questions openly about Islam. There are many misconceptions and a lot of misinformation about Islam. So, we are offering them the chance to come into the house of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and receive authentic answers—not from the media, social media, or the internet, but directly from us, as we are knowledgeable and can provide answers based on the holy scriptures,” the Sheikh added.

The event, according to the mosque, attracted over 700 visitors, the majority being Kenyans with a few non-Kenyans in attendance.

The itinerary included a guided tour of the prayer area, a brief narration of the mosque’s history, teachings on the core beliefs of Islam, and a discussion aimed at addressing misconceptions about the faith, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome.

All visitors left with gift packs containing the Holy Quran in English translation.