Nairobi is affectionately known as the “greenest city under the sun.” Kenya’s capital and largest metropolis are both located here. There are 4.4 million individuals living there. The population of the greater Nairobi metropolitan area is 9.4 million.
It is one of the 47 counties in the nation and accounts for around 62% of the GDP overall. This city has experienced rapid growth and is one of the few in Africa to combine edginess and creativity.
Nairobi is amazing and features both its antique lovely structures and new high skyscrapers that harmoniously fit together. Nairobi is the site of important national, historical, and fashion events.
See Nairobi’s Interesting Facts
Nairobi means “cold waters”
The Maasai word “Enkare Nairobi,” which means “cold water,” is the source of the name Nairobi. The Nairobi River, which runs through the city, was the subject of this. The area where the city and its surroundings now stand used to be entirely swampland and deserted.
The Maasais, who owned large grazing areas, were pushed further out of the way as the city grew in order to accommodate their growth.
It was established in 1899
The colonial authorities in British East Africa founded Nairobi in 1899. This resulted from the Uganda Railway’s rail depot. The town developed quickly, and it eventually succeeded Mombasa as the nation’s capital.
Nairobi became the nation’s capital following Kenya’s declaration of independence in 1963.
Nairobi was made capital in 1902
Nairobi’s population increased from 5,000 in 1902 to 16,000 in 1910.
Administrative actions and tourism were to blame for the increase in population in the city.
The majority of the visitors came for the then-legal sport of game hunting.
Mombasa was dethroned as the capital of the East Africa Protectorate in 1907 and replaced by Nairobi. Nairobi was designated as a municipality in 1919.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch your favorite Switch TV shows
It is the headquarters of several international organizations in Africa
In addition to over 100 significant international enterprises and organizations, Nairobi City is home to thousands of businesses run by Kenyans.
UNEP, the UN, embassies and consulates, Google’s headquarters in Africa, General Electric, Young & Rubicam, Coca-Cola, IBM Services, and Cisco Systems are a few examples of international non-governmental organizations. The regional offices have Safaricom among them.
Nairobi is an administrative county
The City of Nairobi has full administrative County status. This county is entirely urban, and the Nairobi City Council is the only municipal body that reports to the county administration.
Additionally, Nairobi County includes 17 electoral districts. Statehouse and the national assembly are also there.
Nairobi is the hub of arts and culture in Kenya
The center of the arts, as well as other exclusive events and concerts, is in Nairobi. There are two national institutions in the city: the Kenya National Theatre and the Kenya National Archives.
Additionally, the city is home to a number of art galleries, such as the Kuona Art Center for Visual Artists in Nairobi, the Karen Blixen Museum, the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, the Mizizi Arts Centre, and the Nairobi National Museum.
Matatu Culture is popular in Nairobi
Most global cities can be distinguished by their primary means of transportation. There are red buses in London, taxi cabs in New York, and matatus in Nairobi.
Minibuses that are used for public transportation in the nation are known as “matatus” in colloquial language.
The distinctive and outrageous body art on Nairobi’s matatus is what sets them apart from other people. They are breathtaking, especially for new visitors.
The sides of the matatus are covered with street art depicting current events, pop culture, and musical icons. They are a phenomenon in culture.
People from Nairobi are referred to as “Nairobians.”
Nairobi is a city with a rich cultural legacy and history, and the residents are friendly. What distinguishes this city is its culture. Nairobians are the locals who live there. They distinguish themselves from the general populace. They love to party, and fashion and are creative a lot.
Nairobi’s public vans and buses follow a set of route numbers.
Nairobi Matatus go along specific routes. The routes and estates that the matatus service are identified by these numbers.
The former Kenya Bus Service (KBS), the country of Kenya’s first official public transportation system, created these route numbers in 1934.
It’s the only city in the world that has a National Park.
The only national park that borders a major metropolis is Nairobi. On the city’s southern outskirts sits The Park.
A view of the city skyline can be seen while viewing the wildlife in the park. There are Giraffes, Rhinos, Zebras, Lions, and Buffaloes in the park, which is made up of open grasslands.
Nairobi nightlife is vibrant
As was previously noted, partying is one of the traits of a Nairobian. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the city has some of the most energetic nightclubs.
On weekends, the nightclubs are packed to capacity and are constantly bustling during the week. It’s typical to see a crowd of partygoers traveling from club to club. You should not miss out on the city’s nightlife.
You can find street food sellers offering samosas, sausages, and other Kenyan specialties right outside the clubs.
