Nairobi[b] (abbreviated asNBO, NBI orNRB) is thecapital and largest city ofKenya, located in the south-central part of the country. As of 2024, it has a population of 4.8 million and a metropolitan population of 5.7 million,[7] making it the11th most populous city inAfrica. Nicknamed the “Green City in the Sun,” Nairobi is uniquely notable for being the onlycapital city in the world that hosts anational park within its boundaries, and its name originates from theMaasai phraseEnkare Nyirobi, meaning “place of cool waters."
After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of theRepublic of Kenya.[10] During Kenya's early period, the city became a centre for thecoffee,tea andsisal industries.[11][12] The successive post-independence governments have built and turned Nairobi into a modern metropolitan city with a diverse population and a growing economy.[13]
The site of Nairobi was originally a swamp land occupied by apastoralist people, theMaasai, the long-distance trader community,Akamba People, as well as theagriculturalistKikuyu people.[14] The name Nairobi comes from theMaasai expression meaning 'cool waters', referring to the cold water stream which flowed through the area.[15] With the arrival of theUganda Railway, the site was identified bySir George Whitehouse for a store depot, shunting ground and camping ground for theIndian labourers working on the railway.[16][17]
Whitehouse, chief engineer of the railway, favoured the site as an ideal resting place due to its high elevation, temperate climate, adequate water supply and being situated before the steep ascent of theLimuruescarpments.[16][18] His choice was criticised by officials within theProtectorate government who felt the site was too flat, poorly drained and relatively infertile.[14]
The entrance to Nairobi railway station in 1899
In the pre-colonial era, the people of modern Kenya mostly lived in villages amongst their tribes and cultural groups, where they had rulers within their communities rather than one singular government or leader.[19]
In 1898, Arthur Church was first and foremost commissioned to design the first town layout for the railway depot. It constituted two streets –Victoria Street andStation Street, ten avenues, staff quarters and an Indian commercial area.[16] The railway arrived at Nairobi on 30 May 1899, and soon Nairobi replaced Machakos as the headquarters of the provincial administration for the Ukamba province.[20][21]
On the arrival of the railway, Whitehouse remarked that "Nairobi itself will in the course of the next two years become a large and flourishing place and already there are many applications for sites for hotels, shops and houses."[16] The town's early years were however beset with problems ofmalaria leading to at least one attempt to have the town moved.[22] In the early 1900s, Bazaar Street, now Biashara Street, was completely rebuilt after an outbreak ofplague and the burning of the original town.[23]
Between 1902 and 1910, the town's population rose from 5,000 to 16,000 and grew aroundadministration and tourism, initially in the form ofbig game hunting.[24] In 1907, Nairobi replacedMombasa as the capital of the East Africa Protectorate.[25] In 1919, Nairobi was declared to be a municipality.[26][27]
In 1921, Nairobi had 24,000 residents, of which circa 12,000 were native Africans.[28] The next decade saw growth in native African communities in Nairobi, and they began to constitute a majority for the first time.[28] This growth caused planning issues, described by Thorntorn White and his planning team as the "Nairobi Problem".[29] In February 1926, colonial officer Eric Dutton passed through Nairobi on his way toMount Kenya, and said of the city:
Maybe one day Nairobi will be laid out with tarred roads, with avenues of flowering trees, flanked by noble buildings; with open spaces and stately squares; a cathedral worthy of faith and country; museums and of art; theatres and public offices. And it is fair to say that the Government and the Municipality have already bravely tackled the problem and that a town-plan ambitious enough to turn Nairobi into a thing of beauty has been slowly worked out, and much has already been done. But until that plan has borne fruit, Nairobi must remain what she was then, a slatternly creature, unfit to queen it over so lovely a country.[30]
Nairobi remained the capital of Kenya after independence, and its continued rapid growth put pressure on the city's infrastructure with power cuts andwater shortages becoming a common occurrence.
In September 1973, theKenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) was open to the public. The 28-storey building at the time was designed by the Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik and Kenyan David Mutiso. It is the only building within the city with a helipad that is open to the public. Of the buildings built in the Seventies, the KICC was the most eco-friendly and most environmentally conscious structure. Its main frame was constructed with locally available materials gravel, sand, cement and wood, and it had wide open spaces which allowed for natural aeration and natural lighting. Cuboids made up the plenary hall, the tower consisted of a cylinder composed of several cuboids, and the amphitheater and helipad both resembled cones. The tower was built around a concrete core and it had no walls but glass windows, which allowed for maximum natural lighting. It had the largest halls in eastern and central Africa.[34]
In 1972, theWorld Bank approved funds for further expansion of the then Nairobi Airport (nowJomo Kenyatta International Airport), including a new international and domestic passenger terminal building, the airport's first dedicated cargo and freight terminal, new taxiways, associated aprons, internal roads, car parks, police and fire stations, a State Pavilion, airfield and roadway lighting, fire hydrant system, water, electrical, telecommunications and sewage systems, a dual carriageway passenger access road, security, drainage and the building of the main access road to the airport (Airport South Road). The cost of the project was more than US$29 million, US$111.8 million in 2013 dollars.[35] On 14 March 1978, construction of the terminal building was completed on the other side of the airport's single runway and opened by PresidentJomo Kenyatta less than five months before his death. The airport was renamedJomo Kenyatta International Airport in memory of its first president.
TheGiraffe Centre, an animal sanctuary on the southwestern outskirts of Nairobi, was opened in 1983. To this day, it breeds the endangered species ofRothschild's giraffe.
The United States Embassy, then located in downtown Nairobi, was bombed in August 1998 byAl-Qaeda and theEgyptian Islamic Jihad, as one of a series ofUS embassy bombings. It is now the site of a memorial park.[36]
Nairobi showing Fedha Towers, ICEA Building, the Nairobi Safari Club and Anniversary Towers
In October 2011, a memorial statue was unveiled in Nairobi in memory toTom Mboya, a former Kenyan Independence politician and assassination victim.
In November 2012, PresidentMwai Kibaki opened the KES 31 billion Thika Superhighway. This mega-project of Kenya started in 2009 and ended in 2011. It involved expanding the four-lane carriageway to eight lanes, building underpasses, providing interchanges at roundabouts, erecting flyovers and building underpasses to ease congestion. The 50.4-kilometre road was built in three phases: Uhuru Highway to Muthaiga Roundabout; Muthaiga Roundabout toKenyatta University and; Kenyatta University toThika Town.[37]
In May 2017, PresidentUhuru Kenyatta inaugurated the Standard Gauge Railway which connects Nairobi to Mombasa.[38] It was primarily built by a Chinese firm with about 90% of total funding from China and about 10% from the Kenyan government. A second phase is also being built which will linkNaivasha to the existing route and also theUganda border.
In August 2020, Nairobi County Assembly SpeakerBeatrice Elachi resigned.[39] In December 2020, recently elected[40] Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura was sworn in as acting Nairobi Governor four days after the previous Nairobi GovernorMike Sonko was impeached and removed from office.[41] At the time of Mutura's swearing in as acting Governor, which he will hold for at least 60 days, Nairobi did not have a Deputy Governor as well.[41]
Nairobi has seen several major infrastructure projects in recent years. TheNairobi Expressway, completed in 2022, was developed to reduce traffic congestion along Mombasa Road.[42] In 2021, theGreen Park Bus Terminal, part of efforts to improve public transport, began operations.[43] In line with the Kenyan government'sAffordable Housing Program, various housing developments are underway to accommodate the city's growing population.[44]
Nairobi is situated between the cities of Kampala and Mombasa. As Nairobi is adjacent to the eastern edge of theRift Valley, minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally occur. TheNgong Hills, located to the west of the city, are the most prominent geographical feature of the Nairobi area.Mount Kenya is situated north of Nairobi, andMount Kilimanjaro is towards the south-east.[45]
TheNairobi River and itstributaries traverse through the Nairobi County and joins the larger River Athi on the eastern edge of the county.
Nairobi's western suburbs stretch all the way from the Kenyatta National Hospital in the south to the UN headquarters at Gigiri suburb in the north, a distance of about 20 kilometres (12 mi). The city is centred on the City Square, which is located in the Central Business District. TheKenyan Parliament buildings, theHoly Family Cathedral, Nairobi City Hall, Nairobi Law Courts, and theKenyatta Convention Centre all surround the square.
Under theKöppen climate classification, Nairobi has asubtropical highland climate (Cwb). At 1,795 metres (5,889 ft) above sea level, evenings may be cool, especially in the June/July season, when the temperature can drop to 9 °C (48 °F). The sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average in the high-twentiesCelsius during the day. The mean maximum temperature for this period is 28 °C (82 °F).[47]
There are rainy seasons, but rainfall can be moderate. The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle. As Nairobi is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal. The seasons are referred to as thewet season anddry season. The timing of sunrise and sunset varies little throughout the year for the same reason.[48]
Climate data for Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport), elevation 1,615 m (5,299 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–1990, 1999–present)
Nairobi is found within the Greater Nairobi Metropolitan region, which consists of parts of 5 out of 47 counties in Kenya, which generate about 40% of the entire nation's GDP as per 2022 data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.[54][55] Nairobi County on its contributes to 27.5% of the country's GDP according to the same report whileKiambu county comes second with 5.9%.
Nairobi is divided into a series of constituencies with each being represented by members of Parliament in the National Assembly. The initial constituencies before the 2010 constitution which led to the county electoral boundaries being redrawn were: Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe,Langata, Dagoretti,Westlands, Kasarani, andEmbakasi.[56] The new electoral boundaries after this were revised to Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Embakasi Central, Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe, Mathare, Westlands, Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Langata, Kibra, Ruaraka, Roysambu and Kasarani.[57]
The main administrative divisions of Nairobi are Central, Dagoretti,Embakasi, Kasarani,Kibera, Makadara, Pumwani, andWestlands. Most of the upmarket suburbs are situated to the west and north-central of Nairobi, where most European settlers resided during the colonial times AKA 'Ubabini'.[58] These includeKaren,Langata,Lavington,Gigiri,Muthaiga, Brookside, Spring Valley, Loresho,Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Hurlingham,Runda,Kitisuru, Nyari, Kyuna,Lower Kabete,Westlands, andHighridge, although Kangemi, Kawangware, andDagoretti are lower income areas close to these affluent suburbs. The city's colonial past is commemorated by many English place-names.
Most lower-middle and upper middle income neighbourhoods are located in the north-central areas such as Highridge, Parklands, Ngara, Pangani, and areas to the southwest and southeast of the metropolitan area near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The most notable ones include Avenue Park, Fedha, Pipeline, Donholm, Greenfields, Nyayo, Taasia, Baraka, Nairobi West, Madaraka, Siwaka, South B, South C, Mugoya, Riverbank, Hazina, Buru Buru, Uhuru, Harambee Civil Servants', Akiba, Kimathi, Pioneer, and Koma Rock to the centre-east and Kasarani to northeast area among others.
The low and lower income estates are located mainly in far eastern Nairobi. These include, Umoja, Kariokor,Dandora,Kariobangi,Kayole,Ruai,Kamulu,Embakasi, andHuruma. Kitengela suburb, though located further southeast, Ongata Rongai and Kiserian further southwest, and Ngong/Embulbul suburbs also known as 'Diaspora' to the far west are considered part of the Greater Nairobi Metropolitan area. More than 90% of Nairobi residents work within the Nairobi Metropolitan area, in the formal and informal sectors. ManySomali immigrants have also settled inEastleigh, nicknamed "LittleMogadishu".[59] Here is the list of allNairobi Postal Codes – nairobipostalcodes.org[permanent dead link]
Kibera slums being upgraded to New Apartment by the Kenyan Ministry of housing and United Nations Habitat
TheKibera slum in Nairobi is claimed by the Kenyan government to have a population of 185,777.[60] However, non-governmental sources generally estimate the slum to have a population of 500,000 to 1,000,000, depending on what areas are defined as comprising Kibera.[61][62][63][64]
The most famous park in Nairobi isUhuru Park. The park borders the central business district and the neighbourhood Upper Hill. Uhuru (Freedom inSwahili) Park is a centre for outdoor speeches, services, and rallies. The park was to be built over by former PresidentDaniel arap Moi, who wanted the 62-storey headquarters of his party, theKenya African National Union, situated in the park.[65] However, the park was saved following a campaign byNobel Peace Prize winnerWangari Maathai.
Central Park is adjacent to Uhuru Park, and includes a memorial forJomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, and the Moi Monument, built in 1988 to commemorate the second president's first decade in power.
Both Uhuru Park and Central Park were renovated by the-then Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) together with theKenya Defence Forces.[66] The process started in September 2023 and incorporates several key elements, including a cascading water feature, upgraded sanitation facilities, a skateboarding zone, and pedestrian-friendly paths.[67][68] It also highlights statues of native wildlife, carefully groomed lawns, thriving trees, improved footpaths, and expanded green zones.[69] A botanical section has been established as well, showcasing a diverse collection of flowers and plant species to reflect Kenya's abundant floral heritage.[70][71][72]
Jeevanjee Gardens is located within the Central Business District and is easily accessible via foot, private vehcles and public transport.[73] Among Nairobi's most historic and oldest public green spaces, the park was created in the early 20th century by Asian industrialistA.M. Jeevanjee.[74][75]
The John Michuki Memorial Park is situated along theNairobi River, stretching from Globe Cinema Roundabout to Museum Bridge. It was previously known as the Mazingira Park, and was reopened in August 2020 by PresidentUhuru Kenyatta after renovation by theKenya Forest Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), andNational Environment Management Authority (NEMA).[76][77] The park is named in tribute to the late former Cabinet MinisterJohn Michuki, who was instrumental in the restoration of the Nairobi River and its surroundings during his time as Minister for Environment.[78][79][80]
Nairobi Arboretum, founded in 1907 by E. Batiscombe as a trial site for forestry tree species, is a 30-hectare botanical reserve that hosts more than 350 types of trees and functions as both a leisure destination and a research hub.[81] It is located near theState House.[82]
Karura Forest, the city-based nature reserve, features nature trails, picnic spots, caves and waterfalls. It is an excellent destination for birdwatching as the area is home to over 200 documented bird species. While strolling along the trails, visitors may also catch glimpses of monkeys and bushbucks.[83]
Nairobi City Park, is located between Forest Road and Limuru Road. As one of Nairobi's oldest and most expansive urban green spaces, spanning over 60 hectares, City Park holds considerable ecological value. It preserves one of the last remaining patches of indigenous forest that once blanketed the region. The park is home to a rich array of biodiversity, includingSykes' monkeys, various bird species, and a wide assortment of native plant life.[84] City Park also carries historical weight, because it hosts cemeteries for veterans of World War I and II and is the final resting place of notable figures such as freedom fighterPio Gama Pinto and former Vice PresidentJoseph Murumbi, whose memorial garden is located within the park grounds.[85][86]
Oloolua Nature Trail is situated inOloolua Forest in theKaren area of Nairobi. It is under the management of Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) and provides opportunities for nature walks, bird watching, and enjoying the natural environment.[87] Key attractions include a 37-meter deep natural cave that was historically used by Mau Mau fighters, a beautiful waterfall draining into theMbagathi River, a bamboo resting point, and a papyrus swamp.[88]
Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary contains winding walking and jogging paths that pass through tall trees inhabited by various bird species, with occasional sightings ofSykes monkeys. The area also includes a picnic site and a playground for children. Additionally, Ngong Road Forest has cycling trails that run beneath the indigenous tree canopy.[89][90]
Langata Botanical Gardens is a private recreational garden located along Langata South Road. The area comprises numerous native trees, expansive well-maintained lawns, and a lagoon inhabited by a diverse range of fish species.
Other private botanical gardens include Maarifa Park Botanical Garden, located in Kitisuru[91] and the Five Senses Botanical Gardens by Enaki, located in Nyari, Nairobi.[92]
Nairobi Botanical Gardens is located within theNational Museum of Kenya. The Nairobi Botanical Gardens are organized into themed sections, each highlighting a particular conservation topic. For example, the Children's Garden focuses on botany and habitat, providing a space where visitors can learn about indigenous and exotic plants while enjoying open lawns and an outdoor amphitheater. Other sections include the Grass Gardens, which showcase important food and beverage plants, the Herbal Garden dedicated to medicinal and food plants, the Succulent Gardens illustrating plant adaptations to arid environments, the Quarry Garden transformed from a former quarry, and the Memorial Garden commemorating World War II with symbolic plants and a water feature.[93][94]
The colonial 1948 Master Plan for Nairobi still acts as the governing mechanism when it comes to making decisions related to urban planning. The Master Plan at the time, which was designed for 250,000 people, allocated 28% of Nairobi's land to public space, but because of rapid population growth, much of the vitality of public spaces within the city are increasingly threatened.[96] City Park, the only natural park in Nairobi, for example, was originally 60 ha (150 acres), but has since lost approximately 20 ha (50 acres) of land to private development through squatting and illegal alienation which began in the 1980s.[96]
Initially, Nairobi was one of the eight provinces in Kenya before 2013. The Nairobi province differed in several ways from other Kenyan regions. Nairobi Province was not divided into "districts" until 2007, when three districts were created. In 2010, along with the new constitution, Nairobi was renamed a county and consolidated into acity-county. The county is entirely urban. It had only one local council,Nairobi City Council, which was replaced byNairobi City County after the new constitution was effected in March 2013.
Nairobi County has 17 constituencies. Constituency name may differ from division name, such that Starehe Constituency is equal to Central Division, Lang'ata Constituency to Kibera division, and Kamukunji Constituency to Pumwani Division in terms of boundaries.
Nairobi is divided into 17constituencies and 85wards,[97] mostly named after residential estates. Kibera Division, for example, includesKibera, Kenya's largest slum, and the affluent estates ofKaren andLangata.
Nairobi is a major financial capital of Africa, and one of the most modern cities in Africa.
Nairobi is home to theNairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), one of Africa's largeststock exchanges. The NSE was officially recognised as an overseas stock exchange by theLondon Stock Exchange in 1953. The exchange is Africa's fourth largest in terms of trading volumes, and fifth largest in terms of Market Capitalization as a percentage of GDP.[99]
Several of Africa's largest companies are headquartered in Nairobi.Safaricom, the largest company in Kenya by assets and profitability is headquartered in Nairobi, KenGen, which is the largest African stock outsideSouth Africa,[102] is based in the city.Kenya Airways, Africa's fourth largest airline, uses Nairobi'sJomo Kenyatta International Airport as a hub.
Nairobi has not been left behind by the FinTech phenomenon that has taken over worldwide. It has produced a couple of tech firms like Craft Silicon,[103] Kangai Technologies,[104] Jambo Pay[105] andHostraha LimitedArchived 16 November 2022 at theWayback Machine.[106] which have been in the forefront of technology,[107] innovation and cloud based computing services. Their products are widely used and have considerable market share presence within Kenya and outside its borders.[108]
Nairobi has grown around itscentral business district, usually referred to colloquially as "the CBD". This takes a pentagonal shape, around the Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie Avenue, Moi Avenue, and University Way. It features many of Nairobi's important buildings, including the City Hall and Parliament Building. The city square is also located within the perimeter.
Most of the skyscrapers in this region are the headquarters of businesses and corporations, such as I&M and theKenyatta International Conference Centre. TheUnited States Embassy bombing took place in this district, prompting the building of a new embassy building in the suburbs.
In 2011, the city was considered to have about 4 million residents. A large beautification project took place in the Central Business District, as the city prepared to host the 2006 Afri-Cities summit. Iconic buildings such as theKenyatta International Conference Centre had their exteriors cleaned and repainted.[112]
Nairobi downtown area or central business district is bordered to the southwest byUhuru Park and Central Park. TheMombasa toKampala railway runs to the southeast of the district.
Two areas outside the Central Business District that are seeing growth in companies and office space areUpper Hill, which is located, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Central Business District andWestlands, about the same distance from the city centre.
Companies that have moved from the Central Business District to Upper Hill includeCitibank, and in 2007Coca-Cola began construction of theirEast and Central African headquarters in Upper Hill,[113] cementing the district as the preferred location for office space in Nairobi. The largest office development in this area isUAP Tower, completed in 2015 and opened for business in July 2016.[114] It is a 33-storey tower 163 meters high. The World Bank andInternational Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, are also located in Upper Hill at the Delta Center, Menegai Road. Earlier on, they were located in the Hill Park Building and CBA Building respectively, both in Upper Hill, and prior to that in View Park towers in the Central Business District.
To accommodate the large demand for floor space in Nairobi, various commercial projects are being constructed. New business parks are being built in the city, including the flagshipNairobi Business Park.
Construction boom and real estate development projects
Nairobi is undergoing a construction boom. Major real estate projects and skyscrapers are coming up in the city. Among them are the pinnacle twin towers which will tower at 314 m,Britam Tower (200 m), Avic International Africa headquarters (176 m), Prism tower (140 m), Pan Africa insurance towers, Pallazzo offices, and many other projects. Shopping malls are also being constructed like the recently completed Garden city Mall, Centum'sTwo rivers Mall, The Hub in Karen, Karen waterfront, Thika Greens, and the recently reconstructed Westgate Mall.
High-class residential apartments for living are coming up like Le Mac towers, a residential tower in Westlands Nairobi with 23 floors. Avic International is also putting up a total of four residential apartments on Waiyaki way: a 28-level tower, two 24-level towers, and a 25-level tower. Hotel towers are also being erected in the city.
Avic International is putting up a 30-level hotel tower of 141 m in the Westlands. The hotel tower will be operated by Marriot group. Jabavu limited is constructing a 35 floor hotel tower in Upper Hill which will be high over 140 metres in the city skyline. Arcon Group Africa has also announced plans to erect a skyscraper in Upper hill which will have 66 floors and tower over 290 metres, further cementing Upper hill as the preferred metropolis for multinational corporations launching their operations in the Kenyan capital.
Nairobi has experienced one of the highest growth rates of any city in Africa. Since its foundation in 1899, Nairobi has grown to become the second-largest city in the African Great Lakes, despite being one of the youngest cities in the region. The growth rate of Nairobi was estimated in 2023 to be 2.09% a year.[116] It is estimated that Nairobi's population will reach 5 million people in 2025.[117]
Given this high population growth, owing itself both to urban migration and high birth rates, the economy has yet to catch up. Unemployment is estimated at 5.5% within the city,[118] mainly in the high-density, low-income areas of the city which can make them seem even denser than the higher-income neighbourhoods.[119]
In the 2019 Census, Christianity was the most widely practiced religion in Nairobi, accounting for 89% of the population, of which the majority belong to Protestant and Evangelical churches. In 2019, Muslims were 7.6% of the population.[120]
A population projection in the 21st century is listed below:
Nairobi is a diverse melting pot of African cultures. As a cosmopolitan African city, it hosts all the diverse tribes that make up Kenya, and hosts a large immigrant population from other African countries.[123][124][125]
Nairobi has two informal nicknames. The first is "The Green City in the Sun", which is derived from the city's foliage and warm climate.[126] The second is the "Safari Capital of the World", which is used due to Nairobi's prominence as a hub for safari tourism.[127]
Kwani? is Kenya's first literary journal and was established by writers living in Nairobi. Nairobi's publishing houses have also produced the works of some of Kenya's authors, includingNgũgĩ wa Thiong'o andMeja Mwangi who were part of post-colonial writing.
Many film makers also practice their craft out of Nairobi. Film-making is still young in the country, but people like producer Njeri Karago and director Judy Kibinge are paving the way for others.
Perhaps the most famous book and film set in Nairobi isOut of Africa. The book was written byKaren Blixen, whose pseudonym was Isak Dinesen, and it is her account of living inKenya. Karen Blixen lived in the Nairobi area from 1917 to 1931. The neighbourhood in which she lived,Karen, is named after her.
Nairobi is the setting of many of the novels ofNgũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Kenya's foremost writer.
Nairobi has been the set of several otherAmerican andBritish films. The most recent of these wasThe Constant Gardener (2005), a large part of which was filmed in the city. The story revolves around a British diplomat in Nairobi whose wife is murdered in northern Kenya. Much of the filming was in theKibera slum.
Among the latest Kenyan actors in Hollywood who identify with Nairobi isLupita Nyong'o. Lupita received an Oscar award forbest supporting actress in her role as Patsy in the film12 Years a Slave during the86th Academy Awards at the Dolby theatre in Los Angeles. Lupita is the daughter of Kenyan politician Peter Anyang' Nyong'o.
Most new Hollywood films are nowadays screened at Nairobi's cinemas. Up until the early 1990s, there were only a few film theatres and the repertoire was limited. There are also twodrive-in cinemas in Nairobi.
In 2015 and 2016, Nairobi was the focus point for the American television seriesSense8 which shot its first and second seasons partly in the city. The TV series has high reviews inThe Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
In 2015 Nairobi was featured in the British thriller filmEye in the Sky, which is a story about a lieutenant general and a colonel who faced political opposition after ordering a drone missile strike to take out a group of suicide bombers in Nairobi.
In 2017, the name "Nairobi" was taken as a code-name by a female main character in the famous Spanish TV seriesMoney Heist.
Coffee houses, doubling up as restaurants and mostly frequented by the upper middle classes, such as ArtcaffeNairobi Java House and Dormans, have become increasingly popular in recent days. Traditional food joints such as the popular K'osewe's in the city centre and Amaica, which specialize in African delicacies, are widespread.
The Kenchic franchise which specialized in old-school chicken and chips meals was popular, particularly among the lower classes and students, with restaurants all over the city and its suburbs. However, as of February 2016, Kenchic stopped operating its eatery business. Upscale restaurants often specialize in specific cuisines such as Italian, Lebanese, Ethiopian, and French, but are more likely to be found in five star hotels and the wealthier suburbs in the West and South of the city.
Nairobi has an annual restaurant week (NRW) at the beginning of the year, January–February. Nairobi's restaurants offer dining packages at reduced prices.[129] NRW is managed by Eatout Kenya which is an online platform that lists and reviews restaurants in Nairobi, and provides a platform for Kenyan foodies to congregate and share.
Nairobi is the centre of Kenya's music scene.Benga is a Kenyan genre which was developed in Nairobi. The style is a fusion ofjazz andLuo music forms. Mugithi is another popular genre in Kenya, with its origins in the central parts of the country. A majority of music videos of leading local musicians are also filmed in the city.
In the 1970s, Nairobi became the prominent centre formusic in theAfrican Great Lakes. During this period, Nairobi was established as a hub ofsoukous music. This genre was originally developed inKinshasa andBrazzaville. After the political climate in the regiondeteriorated, many Congolese artists relocated to Nairobi. Artists such asOrchestra Super Mazembe moved fromCongo to Nairobi and found great success.[130]Virgin records became aware of the popularity of the genre and signed recording contracts with severalsoukous artists.
Nairobi, including the coastal towns of Mombasa and Diani, have recently become the centre ofEDM in Kenya, producing DJs as well as producers likeDJ Fita.
Many nightclubs in and around the city have witnessed a growth in the population that exclusively listen to Electronic Dance Music, especially amongst the younger generations.[neutrality isdisputed] Gospel music is also popular in Nairobi just as in the rest of Kenya, with gospel artists having a great impact in the mostly Christian city.[citation needed]
The premier sports facility in Nairobi and generally in Kenya is theMoi International Sports Centre in the suburb of Kasarani. The complex was completed in 1987, and was used to host the 1987All Africa Games. The complex comprises a 60,000 seater stadium, the second largest in the African Great Lakes (after Tanzania's new national stadium), a 5,000 seater gymnasium, and a 2,000 seater aquatics centre.[133]
TheNyayo National Stadium is Nairobi's second largest stadium renowned for hosting global rugby event under the "Safaricom Sevens". Completed in 1983, the stadium has a capacity of 30,000.[134] This stadium is primarily used forfootball. The facility is located close to the Central Business District, which makes it a convenient location for political gatherings.
Ulinzi Sports Complex was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 after its construction that started in 2020.[135] It has a capacity of 7,500, an 8-lane Athletics track, training grounds and an indoor arena.[136]
Dandora Stadium, a 4,000 capacity stadium opened in 2024, hosts some of the top flight national league football tournaments. The stadium has seats in the VIP section and regular stands.[137][138][139]
Talanta Sports Stadium, with a capacity of 60,000, is currently under construction with an estimated completion date of February 2026.[140][141][142]
Kenya, together with Tanzania and Uganda will be cohosting the 2025CHAN competition.[143][144] Also, the three countries will jointly host the 2027AFCON football competition.[145][146][147]
There are severalgolf courses within a 20 km radius of Nairobi.[148] The oldest 18-hole golf course in the city is the Royal Nairobi Golf Club. It was established in 1906 by theBritish, just seven years after the city was founded. Other notable golf clubs include the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, Karen Country Club, VetLab Sports Club, Golf Park Golf Club, Kenya Railways Golf Club, Sigona Golf Club and Muthaiga Golf Club.
Basketball is a popular sport played in the city's primary, Secondary and college leagues. Many of the city's urban youth are basketball fans and watch the AmericanNBA.
The majority of schools follow the Kenyan competence based curriculum (CBC). Nairobi Innovation Week (NIW) is an annual that was started in 2015. It is organized by the University of Nairobi and in collaboration with government agencies. It focuses on partnerships, innovations, incubation, and startups. It promotes an entrepreneurial culture. It is an event for local and international innovators to showcase innovations, and to network.[154][155]
Nairobi is home to several Universities and Colleges.
TheUniversity of Nairobi is the largest and oldest university in Kenya. It was established in 1956, as part of theUniversity of East Africa, but became an independent university in 1970. The university has approximately 84,000 students.[156]
Kenyatta University is situated 16 km (9.9 mi) from Nairobi on the Nairobi road Thika dual carriageway on 450 hectares (1,100 acres) of land. The university was chartered in 1985, offering mainly education-related courses, but has since diversified, offering medicine, environmental studies, engineering, law, business, statistics, agriculture, and economics. It has a student body of about 32,000, the bulk of whom (17,000) are in the main campus. It is one of the fastest-growing public universities.
Strathmore University started in 1961 as anAdvanced Level (UK) Sixth Form College offering Science and Arts subjects. The college started to admit accountancy students in March 1966, and thus became a university. In January 1993, Strathmore College merged with Kianda College and moved to Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate, Nairobi.
United States International University – Nairobi was originally a branch of theUnited States International University, but became a fully autonomous university in 2005. It was first established in 1969. The university has accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, in the US, and the Government of Kenya. It is located in a quiet west side location of Roysambu area north-central Nairobi opposite the Safari Park Hotel.
In 2005, TheAga Khan Hospital, Nairobi was upgraded to a health sciences teaching hospital, providing post graduate education in medicine and surgery including nursing education, henceforth renamed the Aga Khan University Hospital.
TheCatholic University of Eastern Africa located in Lang'ata suburb, obtained its "Letter of Interim Authority" in 1989. Following negotiations between the Authority of the Graduate School of Theology and the Commission for Higher Education (CHIEA), the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was established three years later, culminating in the granting of the Civil Charter to CHIEA on 3 November 1992.
The Technical University of Kenya (formerly Kenya Polytechnic) is the onlyTechnical University in the country. Established in 1961 as the Kenya Technical Institute, the university was chartered byMwai Kibaki in 2013 to become an independent institution of higher learning (It was previously a constituent college of the University of Nairobi). It offers highly technical degree courses in three faculties: Engineering and Built Environment, Applied Sciences and Technologies, and Social Sciences and Technologies.
KCA University (formerly the Kenya College of Accountancy), located in Ruaraka.
Cooperative university of Kenya Islamic University of Kenya
Numerous other universities have opened satellite campuses in Nairobi. The Railways Training Institute established in 1956, is a notable institution of higher learning with a campus in Nairobi.
Major plans are being implemented in the need to decongest the city's traffic and the completion ofThika Road has given the city a much needed face-lift attributed to road's enhancement of global standards. Several projects have been completed, such as Syokimau Rail Station, the Eastern and Northern Bypasses, while numerous other projects are still underway.[157]
The development of these critical transport facilities will, besides reducing transport costs due to faster movement of goods and people within the region, also increase trade, improve the socio-economic welfare of Northern Kenya and boost the country's potential in attracting investments from all over the world.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the largest airport in Kenya. Domestic travelers made up 40% of overall passengers in 2016, an increase of 32% since 2012. JKIA had more than 7 million passengers pass through it in 2016. In February 2017, JKIA received a Category One Status from theFAA, boosting the airport's status as a Regional Aviation hub.[158]
Wilson Airport is a general-aviation airport handling smaller aircraft, mostly propeller-driven. In July 2016, construction of a new air traffic control tower commenced at a cost of KES 163 million (approximately US$1.63 million).[159]
Moi Air Base is a military airport. In its earlier years, it was utilised as a landing strip in the pre-jet airline era. It was mostly used as a British passenger and mail route fromSouthampton toCape Town in the 1930s and 1940s. This route was served byflying boats between Britain andKisumu and then by land-based aircraft on the routes to the south.
Matatus are the most common form of public transport in Nairobi.Matatu, which literally translates to "three cents for a ride" (nowadays much more) are privately owned minibuses.[160] They generally seat 14 to 33 riders. Matatus operate within Nairobi, its environs and suburbs and from Nairobi to other towns around the country.[156] The matatu's route is imprinted along a yellow stripe on the side of the bus, and matatus plying specific routes have specific route numbers.[161]
In November 2014 President Uhuru Kenyatta lifted the ban on the yellow stripe and allowed matatus to maintain the colourful graphics in an effort to support the youth in creating employment. Matatus in Nairobi were easily distinguishable by their extravagant paint schemes, as owners would paint their matatu with various colourful decorations, such as their favouritefootball team orhip hop artist. They are notorious for their poor safety records, which are a result of overcrowding and reckless driving.[163] Due to the intense competition between matatus, many are equipped with powerful sound systems and television screens to attract more customers.
Buses are increasingly becoming common in the city with some even going to the extents of installing complimentary WiFi systems in partnership with the leading mobile service provider. There are four major bus companies operating the city routes and are the traditional Kenya Bus Service (KBS), and newer private operators Citi Hoppa, Compliant MOA and Double M. The Citi Hoppa buses are distinguishable by their green livery, the Double M buses are painted purple, Compliant MOA by their distinctively screaming names and mix of white, blue colours while the KBS buses are painted blue.
Companies such as Easy Coach, Guardian Angel, Transline, Tahmeed, NorthWest, Kisii Classic and Ena coach scheduled buses and luxury coaches to other cities and towns.
Nairobi was founded as arailway town, and the main headquarters ofKenya Railways (KR) is still situated atNairobi railway station, which is located near the city centre. The line runs through Nairobi, fromMombasa toKampala. Its main use is freight traffic connecting Nairobi to Mombasa andKisumu. A number of morning and evening commutertrains connect the centre with the suburbs, but the city has no proper light rail, tramway, or rapid transit lines. A proposal has been passed for the construction of a commuter rail line.
In November 2012, PresidentMwai Kibaki launched the Syokimau Rail Service, marking a major milestone in the history of railway development in Kenya. The opening of the station marked another milestone in efforts to realise various projects envisaged under the Vision 2030 Economic Blueprint. The new station has a train that ferries passengers fromSyokimau to the city centre cutting travel time by half.
The opening of the station marks the completion of the first phase of the Sh24b Nairobi Commuter Rail Network that is geared at easing traffic congestion in Nairobi, blamed for huge economic losses. Other modern stations include Imara Daima Railway Station and Makadara Railway Station.
The newMombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway connects the port city of Mombasa and Nairobi. The new railway line has virtually replaced the old metre-gauge railway. TheNairobi Terminus is located atSyokimau, some 20 km from the city centre. Passengers travelling from Mombasa are transferred the short distance into the CBD with the metre-gauge trains.
Two trans-African automobile routes pass through Nairobi: theCairo-Cape Town Highway and theLagos-Mombasa Highway. Nairobi is served by highways that link Mombasa to Kampala in Uganda and Arusha in Tanzania. These are earmarked to ease the daily motor traffic within and surrounding the metro area. However, driving in Nairobi is chaotic. Most of the roads are tarmacked and there are signs showing directions to certain neighbourhoods.
Nairobi is connected to theJomo Kenyatta International Airport by the Mombasa Highway, which passes through Industrial Area, South B, South C and Embakasi.Ongata Rongai, Langata and Karen are connected to the city centre by Langata Road, which runs to the south. Lavington, Riverside, and Westlands are connected by Waiyaki Way. Kasarani, Eastlands, and Embakasi are connected byThika Road, Jogoo Road, and Outer Ring Road.
Highways connect the city with other major towns such as Mombasa, Machakos, Voi, (A109),Eldoret,Kisumu,Nakuru,Naivasha, and Namanga Border Tanzania (A104).
Nairobi is undergoing major road constructions to update its infrastructure network. The new system of roads, flyovers, and bridges are intended to better cope with high traffic levels. It is also a major component of Kenya's Vision 2030 and Nairobi Metropolis plans. Most roads now are well lit and surfaced with adequate signage.
In 2020, the construction of TheNairobi Expressway began. The Nairobi expressway is a 27 km toll road connecting the Eastern Nairobi neighbourhood of Mulolongo to the uptown neighbourhood of Westlands at James Gichuru junction through Nairobi CBD. The road is directly to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport enabling travellers to access the airport faster avoiding the heavy traffic on Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way. The road has an 11.025 km elevated section between Airtel Center and Westlands.
This road, is intended to ease traffic from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport that accesses Nairobi city center. Also traffic from Central Nairobi is expected to be facilitated, to reduce the number of departing passengers who miss their fights, while stuck in road traffic jams on the city streets.[5] The work involves expansion of the existing road to four-lanes one-way, (8 lanes total), with foot paths, drainage channels, overpass bridges and street lighting. It was opened to the public in May 2022.
94% of the piped water supply for Nairobi comes from rivers and reservoirs in theAberdare Range north of the city, of which the reservoir of theThika Dam is the most important one. Water distribution losses – technically callednon-revenue water – are 40%, and only 40% of those with house connections receive water continuously. Slum residents receive water throughwater kiosks and end up paying much higher water prices than those fortunate enough to have access to piped water at their residence.
There is a wide variety of housing options in Nairobi. The options range from privately owned housing units/apartments, rented units, leased spaces and even houses on mortgage. Most wealthy Kenyans live in Nairobi, but the majority of Nairobians are of average and low income. Half of the population has been estimated to live inslums which cover just 5% of the city area.[165] The growth of these slums is a result of urbanisation, poor town planning, lack of good governance and proper leadership in these settlements and lack of empowerment and social capital among other factors.[166]
Kibera is one of the largest slums in Africa,[167] and is situated to the west of Nairobi. (Kibera comes from the Nubian word Kibra, meaning "forest" or "jungle").[168] The slums cover two square kilometres[169] and are on government land.Kibera has been the setting for several films, the most recent beingThe Constant Gardener.
Other notable slums includeMathare andKorogocho. Altogether, 66 areas are counted as slums within Nairobi.[170]
Many Nairobi non-slum-dwellers live in relatively good housing conditions. Large houses can be found in many of the upmarket neighbourhoods, especially to the west of Nairobi. Middle and high income estates includeGigiri,Muthaiga,Langata andKaren. Other middle and high income estates includeParklands,Westlands, Hurlingham, Kilimani, Milimani, Spring Valley, Lavington, Rosslyn, Kitisuru, and Nairobi Hill.
To accommodate the growing middle class, many new apartments and housing developments are being built in and around the city. The most notable development isGreenpark, atAthi River,Machakos County 25 km (16 mi) from Nairobi's Central Business District. Over 5,000 houses, villas and apartments are being constructed at this development, including leisure, retail and commercial facilities.[171] The development is being marketed to families, as are most others within the city. Eastlands also houses most of the city's middle class and includesSouth C,South B,Embakasi,Buru Buru, Komarock, Donholm, Umoja, Saika, Ruai, Kasarani and various others.
Crime levels and safety have very much improved in Nairobi over recent years. Violent crime is rare but petty crime can still be an issue. In general, petty crime in Nairobi mostly involves pickpocketing and theft, and on rare occasions can be confrontational. Although there have been a handful of isolated attacks in Kenya by Al Shaabab from neighbouring Somalia, these incidences are rare.[172]
Nairobi is home to most of Kenya's news and media organisations. The city is also home to the region's largest newspapers: theDaily Nation andThe Standard. These are circulated within Kenya and cover a range of domestic and regional issues. Both newspapers are published in English. People Daily is also the leading free newspaper distributed on the streets of Nairobi. It is published by Mediamax Limited.
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, a state-run television and radio station, is headquartered in the city.Kenya Television Network is part of the Standard Group and was Kenya's first privately owned TV station. The Nation Media Group runs NTV which is based in Nairobi, The Royal Media Services (RMS). There are also a number of prominent radio stations located in Kenya's capital including Citizen radio, Inooro fm, KISS 100, Capital FM, East FM, Kameme FM, Metro FM, and Family FM, among others.
Alice Wairimu Nderitu (born 1968), human rights activist, and United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide to UN Secretary-General
Dorothy Ooko, activist and technology professional
Aaron Rimbui (born 1979), pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, producer, festival curator, and radio host[174]
Njeri Rionge (1966–2023) , technology entrepreneur who was a co-founder of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Wananchi Online Limited (WOL)
Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, also referred to as,Amin: The Rise and Fall, is a 1981 biographical film by Sharad Patel. The movie details the controversial actions and atrocities of the once dictator ofUganda,Idi Amin, in the time of his violent rise to power in 1971 until he descends in 1979 as the result of Uganda–Tanzania uprising. The movie depicts some of the roles Nairobi as the political hub of Kenya served in opposing the Ugandan dictator, including the coordination betweenTel Aviv and Nairobi duringoperation Entebe.
In 2012, a Kenyandrama film directed by David "Tosh" Gitonga namedNairobi Half Life came to the big screen. The film was selected as the Kenyan entry for theBest Foreign Language Oscar at the85th Academy Awards, but did not make the final shortlist, and is the first time Kenya has submitted a film in this category.[175]
Nairobi inspired the nicknaming of the characterÁgata Jiménez as'Nairobi'; a fictional character in theNetflix seriesMoney Heist, portrayed byAlba Flores. She serves as the quality manager of the group, in charge of printing money in theRoyal Mint of Spain in parts 1 and 2, and overseeing the melting of gold in theBank of Spain in parts 3 and 4. She is widely considered to be the show's most popular character.[176]
^"Klimatafel von Nairobi-Dagoretti (Obs.) / Kenia"(PDF).Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst.Archived(PDF) from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved31 August 2016.
^"Station Nairobi" (in French). Meteo Climat.Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved31 August 2016.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_02.JPG)
