Here is a list of Nairobi buildings that were built by Freemasons. Nairobi is the country’s largest city, and the tall structures that have recently been built in the capital are the talk of the town.
A tour of the city’s tall buildings may hurt your neck, but a few of them will stay with you because of the incredible architectural designs that went into their construction.
While the majority of the buildings currently under construction use European-inspired aluminum cladding and glazing, the beauty and originality of some of the structures in and around Nairobi’s Central Business District cannot be overlooked.
These structures were built by Freemasons many years ago and have since become well-known city landmarks. The Freemasons built religious and colonial organizations by incorporating their signs and symbols into their work.
J.A. Hoogterp, a government architect, began planning Nairobi in the 1920s. Sir Herbert Baker, a freemason, succeeded him after he relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nairobi has taken design cues from cities such as Washington DC, Paris, Cape Town, Pretoria, Canberra, New Delhi, and La Plata, Argentina. The architectural layouts of these cities were thought to be masonic, complete with signs and symbols.
The Freemasons were allowed and free to work wherever they pleased. They were famous for their exquisite stone carving, bricklaying, and precise construction, which have all stood the test of time.
Many buildings in Nairobi were built by Freemasons, including institutions for politics, business, education, and religion.
Jambo Daily takes a swipe at some of the city’s most well-known structures, which were built by freemasons.
Nairobi Buildings that were built by Freemasons
1. Parliament Buildings
in the 1950s. Westminster inspired the design of the building. The design for Parliament was created by Thonrnly Dyer and Amyas D. Connell. Because of the massive English clock, it has gained worldwide acclaim. There is also the mausoleum of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, a founding father. The Parliament Buildings were recently expanded to accommodate more Senate and Parliament members in accordance with the 2010 Constitution.
2. State House
Reports from various sources indicate that the State House, which is the official residence of the Head of State was constructed by the freemasons. These reports hold air since the State House’s architectural design resembles that of other buildings constructed by the Freemasons.
Read Tallest Buildings In Nairobi Kenya.
3. All Saints Cathedral
The church was built in three stages, beginning with the foundation in 1917. The final stage was completed in 1962. AJ Davis, a well-known British stained-glass artist, designed the church’s stained-glass windows. The foreman who oversaw the construction of All Saints Cathedral was a member of Freemasonry.
Surprisingly, there are rumors that there was once a tunnel connecting the All Saints Cathedral Church basement to State House, and that the same tunnel continued to Defense Headquarters as well as the Anglican Church residence opposite State House. Nobody knows for sure if the tunnels exist.
4. The City Hall
Cobb and Archer, both freemasons, created the design, which was completed and made available to the public in the 1950s. It was the tallest structure in Nairobi at the time, standing 165 feet tall with a clock tower. City Hall was later extended after the 13-story City Hall Annex was attached to the structure. This occurred in 1981.
5. Kenya National Archives
Cobb and Archer were the architects. Gridlays Bank used to occupy the building, but it was eventually taken over and converted into an archive. The outstanding Murumbi art collection, rare photographs, colonial records, artifacts, and Jomo Kenyatta’s presidential seat are all housed inside the structure.
Other buildings constructed by the freemasons include:
The High Court
McMillan Library
Kipande House
Pan African House and
Kenya Railways Headquarters
Source: Kenyans.co.ke
