Here are the most Interesting Facts About Nairobi City. Nairobi is affectionately known as the “green city under the sun.” This is Kenya’s capital and the country’s most populous city.
With a net population of 4.4 million people, it is one of the most populous cities in the world. The broader Nairobi metropolitan area houses more than 9.4 million people.
Being one of the 47 counties in the country, it generates about 62 percent of the entire country’s GDP.
The city has grown significantly and is now one of the few African cities that is both edgy and creative at the same time.
Nairobi is breathtaking, with old charming buildings coexisting peacefully with new towering skyscrapers. It hosts historical, fashion, national, and other major events.
Top 20 Interesting facts about Nairobi
1. The Name Nairobi means ‘cool waters’
Nairobi is derived from the Maasai phrase ‘Enkare Nairobi,’ which means “cool water.” This is perhaps the most Interesting Fact About Nairobi
The Nairobi River, which runs through the city, was the subject of this discussion. The area around the city and its environs was previously swampy and uninhabited.
As the city grew, the Maasais, who owned vast grazing lands, were pushed out of the way to make way for the city’s expansion.
2. Nairobi was an industrial town
Nairobi became a center for the colony’s coffee, tea, and sisal industries during the colonial period.
Sir George Whitehouse identified Nairobi as a storage depot with the arrival of the Uganda Railway. It was also the site of a camp for Indian laborers working on the Ugandan railway.
Nairobi’s elevation and temperate climate appealed to Sir George.
Read Beverage Manufacturing Companies in Kenya, Contacts and Location.
3. The city was founded in 1899
The colonial rulers in British East Africa founded Nairobi city in 1899. It was a result of the Uganda Railway’s rail depot.
The town grew quickly, and it soon surpassed Mombasa as Kenya’s capital. Nairobi became the Republic of Kenya’s capital after independence in 1963. This is another unknown Interesting Fact About Nairobi.
4. Nairobi has a pleasant climate.
Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate, according to the Köppen climate classification.
The city is located at an elevation of 1,795 meters above sea level. This means that evenings are much cooler, especially during the summer months of June and July.
The temperature drops to 9 degrees Celsius. Nairobi’s hottest months are late November through early March. The highest temperature during this time of year is 24 °C. This is a rarely known Interesting Fact About Nairobi City.
5. It became a Capital in 1902
Nairobi’s population grew from 5,000 to 16,000 people between 1902 and 1910.
Administrative activities and tourism contributed to the increase in population in the city. The majority of the visitors came for game hunting, which was legal at the time.
Nairobi took over as the capital of the East Africa Vassal state from Mombasa in 1907. Nairobi was designated as a municipality in 1919.
6. Nairobi Securities Exchange is based there (NSE)
The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is Africa’s second-oldest exchange and one of the continent’s largest.
It is Africa’s fourth-largest exchange by trading volume, with the capacity to process 10 million trades per day. In terms of market capitalization, it is also the fifth-largest.
The London Stock Exchange officially recognized the NSE as an overseas stock exchange in 1953.
Nairobi has not been left behind by the FinTech phenomenon that has swept the globe.
7. It is the African headquarters of a number of international organizations.
Nairobi City is home to over 100 major global companies and organizations, as well as thousands of Kenyan businesses.
UNEP, UN, Embassies and consulates, Google Africa headquarters, General Electric, Young & Rubicam, Coca-Cola, IBM Services, and Cisco Systems are among the international non-governmental organizations. Safaricom is one of the regional offices.
8. Nairobi is the hub of arts and culture in Kenya
Nairobi is a cultural center for the arts as well as other high-end events and concerts The city is home to the Kenya National Theatre and the Kenya National Archives.
The Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, the Mizizi Arts Centre, Nairobi National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum, and Kuona Art Center for Visual Artists in Nairobi are among the city’s art galleries.
9. It has several parks and recreation centers
Throughout the city, there are numerous parks and open spaces. The city has a lot of green space and a lot of trees.
Uhuru Park is one of Nairobi’s most well-known parks. The park is located between the central business district and the Upper Hill neighborhood.
It’s where outdoor speeches, services, and rallies take place. Wangari Maathai, who later won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, designed the park.
Central Park, City Park, Jevanjee Gardens, Nairobi Arboretum, and 7th August Memorial Park are among the other parks in Nairobi.
Read Top ten best museums in Nairobi Kenya.
10. It is an administrative City
Nairobi has been designated as a full administrative county.
Nairobi City Council, which is under the county government, is the only local council in this county, which is entirely urban.
Nairobi County has the most constituencies in Kenya, with seventeen (17) constituencies divided into 85 electoral wards. It also houses the national assembly and the statehouse.
11. It is the only city in the world with a National Park
Nairobi national park is the only national park in Africa that is located on the outskirts of a major city. The Park is located in the southern suburbs of the city.
The Park offers views of the wildlife against a backdrop of the city skyline.
Giraffes, Rhinos, Zebras, Lions, and Buffaloes live in the park, which is made up of wide-open grasslands.
Read 12 National Parks In Kenya With Breathtaking Experience.
12. Matatu Culture is popular in Nairobi City
Among the Interesting Facts About Nairobi City is that it hosts the annual matatu culture festivals. Matatus are the most common mode of transportation in Nairobi for the majority of the population.
The one-of-a-kind outlandish art on Matatus in Nairobi sets them apart. They are breathtaking, particularly for first-time visitors.
The sides of the matatus are covered in graffiti depicting pop culture, music icons, and current events. They’re a cultural phenomenon, to put it that way.
13. Sheng, a Kenyan slang term, was born in Nairobi’s Eastlands neighborhood.
The kind of language that nairobians speak is among the Interesting Facts About Nairobi City. Sheng is a language mastered vividly among Nairobi residents, especially the youth.
Kenyans speak a variety of languages, with the majority speaking three or more. English and Kiswahili are the two most widely spoken languages.
Sheng, a third language, exists. This is a mix of English, Kiswahili, and local dialects. This language is primarily associated with urban youth who popularized it even among the rural population.
14. Nairobi residents are known as ‘Nairobians.’
Nairobi is a city rich in culture, heritage, and history, with friendly people. The city’s culture is what distinguishes it.
Nairobians are the people who live in the city. They are different from the rest of the people. Nairobi residents enjoy partying, dressing up, and being creative.
The Standard Media Group, a leading Media Company in Kenya also produces a newspaper called The Nairobian, which talks much about news and happenings in the city.
15. Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor is the most Instagrammable hotel.
The guests of this luxury boutique hotel in Nairobi will have a one-of-a-kind experience.
Breakfast and afternoon tea with Giraffes are available to guests. You have the best shot for your socials with the Giraffes grazing in one hand and a cup of hot in the other.
Although this hotel has a high price tag, the experience will be well worth it.
16. Nairobi’s nightlife is thriving.
One of the characteristics of a Nairobian, as previously stated, is the ability to party. As a result, it’s no surprise that the city has some of the most lively nightclubs.
The nightclubs are always packed on weekends and are always busy during the week.
It’s not uncommon to see a group of partygoers going from club to club. This city’s nightlife is something not to be missed.
Street food vendors selling sambusas, sausages, and other Kenyan delicacies can be found just outside the clubs.
17. Nairobi’s public buses and vans use route numbers.
Nairobi Matatus follow a route numbering system. These numbers are used to identify the routes and estates that the matatus service.
The former Kenya Bus Service (KBS), which was Kenya’s first formal mode of public transportation in 1934, created these route numbers.
Read Where To Board Various Matatu Routes In Nairobi City.
18. Nairobi is one of Africa’s top ten destinations.
Nairobi has been named one of Africa’s top ten destinations. There is plenty to do both inside and outside the city.
Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre, Mamba Village, Karura Forest, and Nairobi National Park are among the best places to visit in Nairobi.
19. Nairobi is among the fastest-growing cities in Africa
Nairobi has experienced one of the fastest rates of growth among African cities. On the expanding skyline, there are major real estate projects, towering skyscrapers, and other major developments visible.
20. Nairobi was Ranked the best business city in Africa
Closing the list of Interesting Facts About Nairobi City is that Expatriates ranked Kenya’s capital Nairobi as the best city to work in on the continent in December 2021, up 50 places from the previous year due to ease of settling and finding housing.
Nairobi also ranks 12 out of 57 cities surveyed in the world in the Expat City Ranking 2021, up from 62 out of 66 in 2020.
Nairobi outperformed other African cities such as Cape Town (41 points), Cairo (52 points), and Johannesburg (53 points) (55).
