Makkah LiveHow to face the qibla in Nairobi
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by 7.2° — a little past north — and you are facing the Kaaba, 2,547 km away in Makkah. The easiest reliable way to do this indoors is with a map: draw a line from your position at 7.2° and align yourself with it, or simply use the interactive finder above, which reads your device orientation and location.
If you use a physical compass, remember that it points to magnetic north. Depending on the local magnetic declination, the needle can be several degrees off true north, and nearby metal or electronics can disturb it further — so treat a magnetic compass reading as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
What direction is the qibla in Nairobi?
In Nairobi, Kenya, the qibla is 7.2° clockwise from true north — roughly north. Face that bearing and you are facing the Kaaba in Makkah.
How far is Nairobi from Makkah?
Nairobi is about 2,547 km (1,582 mi) from the Kaaba in Makkah, measured along the great-circle route — the shortest path over the Earth's surface, which is the path the qibla follows.
Can I use my phone compass to find the qibla?
Yes — but phone compasses point to magnetic north, which can differ from true north by several degrees depending on where you are, and they are easily disturbed by metal and electronics. For an accurate reading, use our interactive Qibla finder, which uses your exact location, or align the bearing of 7.2° with a map instead of a magnetic compass.
Is this bearing exact?
The bearing is computed with the standard great-circle formula from the centre of Nairobi to the Kaaba (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E), so it is exact for that point. Within the city it varies by a fraction of a degree — far less than the accepted margin when facing the qibla.
Qibla in other Kenya cities
Related links
- Prayer times in Nairobi — today’s times and the full yearly schedule
- Interactive Qibla finder — live compass from your exact location
- Makkah Live — Al-Masjid Al-Haram — watch the Kaaba live in HD, 24/7