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.