Nairobi
Nairobi (/naɪˈroʊbi/ ny-ROH-bee) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census. The city is commonly referred to as The Green City in the Sun.
Nairobi | |
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Clockwise from top: central business district; a giraffe walking in Nairobi National Park; Parliament of Kenya; Nairobi City Hall; and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: "The Green City in the Sun" | |
Nairobi Location within Kenya Nairobi Location within the Horn of Africa Nairobi Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 01°17′11″S 36°49′02″E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| County | Nairobi |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Sub-counties | |
| Government | |
| • Body | Nairobi City County |
| • Legislature | County Assembly |
| • Governor | Johnson Sakaja |
| Area | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 696.1 km2 (268.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,795 m (5,500 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 4,397,073 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 4,750,056 |
| • Density | 6,317.6/km2 (16,363/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 4,397,073 |
| Demonym | Nairobian |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Area code | 020 |
| HDI (2019) | 0.681 - medium |
| GDP (2023) | 30 billion USD |
| GDP PPP (2023) | 90 billion USD |
| Website | nairobi |
Nairobi was founded in 1899 by colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda - Kenya Railway. The town quickly grew to replace Mombasa as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya. During Kenya's colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony's coffee, tea and sisal industry. The city lies in the south central part of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft).
Nairobi is home of the Kenyan Parliament Buildings and hosts thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 1000 major international companies and organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is one of the largest in Africa and the second-oldest exchange on the continent. It is Africa's fourth-largest exchange in terms of trading volume, capable of making 10 million trades a day. It also contains the Nairobi National Park. Nairobi joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2010.