Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi is Kenya's capital and East Africa's economic and diplomatic hub. Founded only in 1899 as a colonial railway depot, it has grown into a regional power city, headquarters of UNEP and UN-Habitat, and the only major capital in the world bordered by a national park.
Highlights
- Headquarters of UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat
- Nairobi National Park within the city limits
- East Africa's largest tech ecosystem ('Silicon Savannah')
- Major hub for international NGOs and diplomatic missions
History
Founded in 1899 as a railway camp midway on the Uganda Railway, Nairobi grew rapidly as a colonial settler town and replaced Mombasa as Kenya's capital in 1907. Post-independence (1963) Nairobi consolidated its role as East Africa's primate city, hub of international development and African union diplomacy.
Economy
Nairobi is home to the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the regional headquarters of many multinationals (Google, Microsoft, IBM, Visa), pan-African telecom Safaricom (M-Pesa), and a vibrant startup scene. It anchors East Africa's most diversified economy.
Neighborhoods
CBD (downtown), Westlands and Upper Hill are commercial centres; Karen and Lavington are leafy upscale residential; Kibera is one of Africa's largest informal settlements; Eastleigh hosts a major Somali diaspora business district.
Distances from Nairobi
Calculate distance and flight time from Nairobi to other major African cities: