Nairobi’s iconic Khoja Mosque

By JAMES WANZALA

At the junction of Nairobi’s Moi Avenue and the beginning of River Road, stands a three-storey iconic stone building. Many call it Khoja Mosque, but its actual name is Nairobi Town Jamatkhana, meaning “prayer house or mosque”.

Built by the Ismaili community led by the Aga Khan, the foundation stone of this mosque was laid in January 1920. Two years later in 1922, its construction was completed. The building of the mosque is credited for stimulating business growth around the area as many people started building business premises hence, the name Bazaar Street, which was later renamed Biashara Street.

The building of the mosque was also significant for historical reasons. First, it was prominently situated at the city centre of colonial Nairobi. Its construction and opening made it a ‘high profile’ building for its time. Secondly, it symbolised the permanent settlement of the Ismaili community in colonial Kenya. Online sources indicate that Queen Elizabeth visited the mosque in 1956.

The present Imam of the Ismailis (49th), Shah Karim al Hussaini, is said to have visited this Jamatkhana and recited Namaaz (‘congregational prayer’) when he was nine. The mosque is also gazetted as one of Kenya’s historical sites and monuments.

Its exterior design of solid stone blocks makes it appear like a huge majestic palace with massive front entrance doors and a huge clock on its dome.

 Its exterior and interior architecture consists of arcs on the ground floor and fair finished stone facing decorative motifs around the windows.

The inside walls and pillars are painted with white and terracotta paints respectively. Potted flowers give the interior a magnificent touch, beauty and ambiance than what someone could see from the almost nondescript exterior.

The clock tower is an echo of British tradition. From a distance, the clock on the dome, would have been a point of reference for residents, passers-by and tradesmen in the 1920s. The ground floor has a courtyard with wooden benches against the wall and beautiful flowers in the pots where those who have finished prayers can relax and socialise before leaving. Initially, the courtyard was completely open; in later years, a glass dome was added, providing shelter from the elements. There used to be a library to the right  of the main entrance but it has since been relocated.

Display

On the left is a display case in an enclosed brown wooden cupboard showing celebration pictures of Aga Khan Sultan Mohamed Shah, grandfather to the current Aga Khan, and a few relics. The ground floor also hosts different offices of the Aga Khan community institutions. On the wall, near the display case, is the foundation stone plaque that shows significant historical information about the foundation and opening ceremony. The mosque has an elevator and stairs on both sides, one used by men and the other by women.

The first floor has a plaque that shows volunteers who served from 1903 to 1996. The first floor features the prayer hall where men and women pray, with one side reserved for males and the other for females.

 The second floor has a smaller prayer hall than the one on the first floor.  It has soundproof windows that block out noise pollution from the traffic, allowing for a quiet environment for prayer and meditation.

Foundation stone

The foundation stone was laid on January 4, 1920 by the then HE The Ag Governor Sir Charles C Bowring while HE The Governor Major General Sir Edward Northey opened the building on January 14, 1922.  Architectural work was done by K  Virjee Nanji, stone works by Mistris–Gulmohamed, Govind Arjaan & Nathoo Carpenter Mistri-Rood Singh.

While the stones were sourced locally, some of the wood fittings may have been imported from India.

The public commonly referred to the Jamatkhana building as the “Khoja Mosque” and it is still referred to by this name by many Kenyans as well as tourist maps and guidebooks.

“Khoja” commonly refers to Nizari Ismailis of Indo-Pakistani origin, but this can cause confusion because the 1866 and other secessionists also continued to call themselves Khojas.