Religio-Cultural Practices, Gender, and the Afterlife Among Somali Muslims in Eastleigh, Nairobi

Philemon Tanui, Josephine Mutuku — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This study explores the religio-cultural practices surrounding death and the afterlife among the Somali Muslim community in Eastleigh, Nairobi County, with particular attention to the concept of adhaab al-kabr (punishment of the grave) and the gendered dimensions of death rituals. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and focus group discussions with 48 participants, including community members, religious leaders, and cultural elders. The study utilized the theory of assimilation to examine how Islamic teachings on death and the afterlife have been integrated with Somali cultural practices, and the social interpretive theory to understand how community members attach meaning to their practices. Findings reveal that death rituals in the Somali Muslim community represent a complete assimilation of Islamic eschatology into indigenous cultural forms. Burial practices emphasize immediacy, ritual washing, shrouding, and prayer, reflecting Islamic prescriptions. The mourning process is structured, lasting forty days with specific rituals on the third, seventh, and fortieth days, blending Islamic supplication with Somali cultural expressions of grief. Women are systematically marginalized in death rituals, prohibited from approaching the grave, participating in burial, or engaging in formal religious roles during funerals. This exclusion is justified through cultural narratives about women’s emotionality, yet it stands in tension with Islamic teachings that grant women greater participation. The belief in adhaab al-kabr shapes these practices, with the community’s understanding of the grave as the first station of the afterlife informing how the deceased are prepared, mourned, and remembered. The study contributes to the anthropology of religion, gender studies, and Islamic studies by providing rich ethnographic data on the topic, as understood and lived, and on the intersection of eschatological belief, cultural practice, and gender dynamics in a diasporic Somali community.

The Role of Home Cells in Church Growth: A Case of Zion Temple Global Ministries in Busia County, Kenya

Thomas Chikati Wamondo, Loreen Maseno, Sussy Gumo — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This study examined how the home cells of Zion Temple Global Ministries (ZTGM) have contributed to church growth and the roles they play in relation to discipleship, gender relations in leadership, counseling, and mentorship. A convergent mixed-methods design was used, combining quantitative data from 178 respondents with qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions. The results showed that home cells are core to discipleship, with 97.75 percent of the respondents indicating that they supplement Sunday worship and 89 percent indicating that they experience a significant spiritual growth. The most effective discipleship activities were Bible study (37.64) and worship (32.58). It was also observed that gender-inclusive leadership received strong support (94.38%). Women were more represented in home cell leadership due to greater participation, whereas men were underrepresented in both participation and leadership (18%). Moreover, 68% of respondents had undergone counseling; 80.17% were satisfied discussing personal problems, and 90% were comfortable discussing them, indicating strong relational trust. However, counseling is quite informal and centralized, and home cell leaders were not well-equipped. The study concludes that home cells are important to the growth and development of church members, and that standardized curricula, leadership training, and structured counseling systems need to be improved to be more effective.

ShahidiHub International Journal of Education, Humanities & Social Science

Religio-Cultural Practices, Gender, and the Afterlife Among Somali Muslims in Eastleigh, Nairobi

The Role of Home Cells in Church Growth: A Case of Zion Temple Global Ministries in Busia County, Kenya