Calls for peace, unity dominate Eid-ul-Adha celebrations

Kenya's Muslim community marked Eid-ul-Adha with prayers, charitable giving, and appeals for national reconciliation, as worshippers thronged mosques and open-air grounds from the coast to the capital in celebration of the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice.

In Nairobi, thousands converged at Jamia Mosque along Banda Street and at open grounds across Eastleigh — the city's predominantly Somali and Muslim commercial hub — where imams led morning prayers before large congregations dressed in festive attire. Similar scenes played out in Mombasa's historic Old Town, where the Mandhry Mosque, one of the oldest on the East African coast, was filled to capacity with overflow crowds spilling onto surrounding lanes.

Eid-ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, and is marked by the ritual slaughter of livestock — typically goats, sheep, or cattle — with meat distributed among family, neighbours, and the poor. Across Kenya's 47 counties, mosques coordinated meat distribution drives targeting low-income households and children's homes.

In their sermons, religious leaders struck a consistent theme of national unity, urging Muslims and non-Muslims alike to embrace dialogue over confrontation at a time when political tensions continue to simmer. Several imams called on elected officials to prioritise the welfare of ordinary Kenyans over partisan interests, referencing ongoing debates around taxation, the cost of living, and the sustained civic unrest that has characterised recent months.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims issued a statement asking citizens of all faiths to use the spirit of sacrifice associated with the holiday to recommit to community service and national cohesion ahead of a politically sensitive period.