Nairobi (pron.: /naɪˈroʊbi/) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County.

The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyrobi, which translates to “cold water”. The phrase is also the Maasai name of the Nairobi river, which in turn lent its name to the city. However, it is popularly known as the “Green City in the Sun” and is surrounded by several expanding villa suburbs.

Residents of Nairobi are known as Nairobians.


Founded by the British in 1899 as a simple rail depot on the railway linking Mombasa to Uganda, the town quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa in 1907, and eventually the capital of a free Kenyan republic in 1963.

During Kenya’s colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony’s coffee, tea and sisal industry.

In 1905, Nairobi replaced Mombasa as capital of the British protectorate, and the city grew around administration and tourism, initially in the form of big game hunting. As the British occupiers started to explore the region, they started using Nairobi as their first port of call. 

This prompted the colonial government to build several spectacular grand hotels in the city. The main occupants were British game hunters.

Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of about 3 million.

Nairobi is currently the 12th largest city in Africa, including the population of its suburbs.