Nairobi

I

Introduction

Nairobi, city in south central Kenya, the capital of the country, located just south of the equator. The city’s name is derived from a Masai word meaning “place of cool waters.” One of the largest and fastest growing cities in Africa, Nairobi is Kenya’s principal economic and cultural center.

II

Description

The city of Nairobi covers an area of about 680 sq km (about 260 sq mi) at an average altitude of 1,675 m (5,495 ft) above sea level. The city center—and the area around it to the east and south—is a relatively flat plain, while the area to the west and north is hilly. Nairobi has many varied neighborhoods and suburbs, some bearing European names and others African names. The important commercial and administrative areas are located in the city center, which is ringed by residential areas. The main industrial area is located to the south, beyond which is Nairobi National Park, a wildlife preserve and major tourist attraction. A large market is located near the city center, and smaller open-air markets fill many of the city’s open spaces. Surrounding the large, central City Square are Nairobi’s city hall; Kenya’s parliament building; the Kenyatta Conference Center; the law courts; and the mausoleum of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding father.

Nairobi’s residential areas still reflect the city’s colonial past, when residence was determined largely by race and income. Racial barriers disappeared after Kenya became independent from Britain in 1963, but the city’s residential pattern continues to be determined by income. In general, Nairobi’s wealthier residents live in neighborhoods to the west of the city center, while the least wealthy residents live in the east. In addition, temporary shantytowns have grown up adjacent to some of the residential areas, most notably in the Mathari Valley, east and north of the city center. Like many cities in developing countries, approximately 80 percent of Nairobi’s residential land houses less than 20 percent of its population.

Nairobi’s altitude produces relatively cool temperatures despite the city’s proximity to the equator. The average annual temperature is 17ºC (63ºF). Nairobi’s average annual rainfall is 790 mm (31 in), with most of the rain falling in two rainy seasons, March to May and October to December.

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III

Population and Culture

Nairobi has experienced a huge, relatively steady increase in population since Kenya became independent in 1963, as Africans have migrated to the city from Kenya’s rural areas. The population nearly doubled between the 1962 and 1969 censuses, growing from 266,794 to 509,206 residents. Nairobi’s population at the 1989 census was 1,324,570, and in 1999 the city had an estimated population of 1,810,000.

From the time of its origin, Nairobi has been home to a diverse, multiracial population. Africans have long made up the majority, but Asians (primarily Indians and Pakistanis) and Europeans also account for a small portion of the city’s residents. There are far fewer Asians and Europeans than there were in 1962, when they constituted 40 percent of the population of Nairobi. The change is largely explained by the departure of many Asians and Europeans, and the large influx of Africans, after Kenya gained independence. About one-third of the city’s African population are members of the Kikuyu ethnic group, followed by smaller percentages of Luo, Luhya, and Kamba peoples. The Masai, who inhabited the region before the city existed, now constitute less than 1 percent of the residents. The majority of Nairobi’s people are Christians. There are also significant numbers of Muslims and smaller communities of Hindus and Sikhs.

Nairobi is Kenya’s cultural center. The Kenya National Theatre stages plays, concerts, and dance programs in the city. The Kenya National Archives houses historical photographs and documents, as well as Kenyan art and artifacts. The National Museum is known for its displays on prehistoric African humans and also contains an extensive ornithological collection and a contemporary art gallery. Other cultural institutions in Nairobi include the McMillan Memorial Library, the Sorsbie Art Gallery, and several private art galleries. The University of Nairobi (1956), the Kenya Polytechnic (1961), the Kenya Conservatoire of Music (1944), and Kenyatta University (1972) are the leading educational institutions in the city and its outskirts.

IV

Economy

Nairobi is East Africa’s most important commercial, manufacturing, financial, and tourist center. Since independence, Nairobi has practiced import substitution—that is, the production of goods that formerly had to be imported. Important industries include food processing; motor vehicle assembly; and the production of beer, cigarettes, auto parts, paper, textiles, and clothing. The railways also employ a significant percentage of Nairobi residents. National and multinational banking and insurance companies have headquarters in Nairobi. The city also receives significant revenues from tourism.

Nairobi is a regional hub for air, road, and rail travel. The city is linked to the Kenyan coast, the Lake Victoria and Mount Kenya regions, and neighboring Uganda by rail and all-weather roads. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, located southeast of Nairobi, is the nation’s largest airport, while Wilson Airport to the south serves charter and private flights within the region. Population growth severely taxed Nairobi’s public transportation system in the 1990s, and the proliferation of small private taxis, known as matatus, has caused traffic congestion, especially in the city center. Many of the city’s streets and highways are regularly in poor condition and subject to floods in times of heavy rainfall.

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