Jamia Mosque

Jamia Mosque is the most important mosque in Nairobi and one of the city centre's most recognisable buildings. The community traces its foundation to 1902, when Syed Maulana Abdullah Shah established it, and the present building was constructed between 1925 and 1933 to a design by the architect William Landels. Its silver domes and slender minarets rise above the shops of Banda Street, in the heart of the central business district.

The style is classical Arabic Islamic architecture. Look for the three silver domes, the twin minarets, and the generous use of marble and Quranic inscriptions. The mosque can hold around 5,000 worshippers and becomes especially busy for Friday midday prayers, when the surrounding streets fill with people. A modern wing was added in 1998, and the complex also includes a library and a multi-purpose hall, while a row of shops around it, including a clinic and pharmacy, helps pay for its upkeep. The mosque also publishes the weekly Friday Bulletin and is home to Horizon TV.

Jamia is above all an active place of worship and a centre of Muslim life in East Africa rather than a tourist attraction. Most visitors admire it from the street and photograph the domes and minarets from Banda Street. If you would like to see inside, ask politely at the entrance whether visitors are being admitted that day, and accept the answer if not. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and women should carry a scarf to cover their hair. Remove shoes where asked and avoid visiting during prayer times, particularly on Friday around midday.

Allow 20 to 30 minutes to look at the exterior and the surrounding streets. Photography of the building from outside is common, but always ask before photographing people. The area is busy and crowded, so keep phones and wallets secure and walk with purpose.

The mosque is in the middle of the central business district, close to Kenyatta Avenue and Moi Avenue. It is easy to combine with the Kenya National Archives, the Nairobi Gallery and KICC on a walking loop of the historic centre, ideally in the morning before the heat and traffic build.