Welcome to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and one of Africa’s most dynamic cities. Known as the “Green City in the Sun,” Nairobi is a place where wildlife grazes on the city’s edge while skyscrapers shine in the heart of downtown. It’s a city of contrasts — where tradition and modernity, history and ambition, nature and technology all meet.

 

 

Nairobi began as a railway depot in 1899 on the line between Mombasa and Uganda. From a dusty outpost, it grew into the bustling hub it is today. The city has witnessed colonial struggles and independence movements, and today it stands as the political, financial, and cultural hub of East Africa.

 

At its core is Uhuru Park and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) — symbols of unity and independence.

 

 

Nairobi is home to over 4.5 million people, representing Kenya’s more than 40 ethnic groups. The languages? Swahili and English dominate, but you’ll hear local slang, Sheng, on every street corner. Sheng mixes Swahili, English, and local dialects — and it’s the voice of Nairobi’s youth.

 

The city is nicknamed “Nairobbery” in jest, reflecting its challenges, but locals also proudly call it “Nai” or “Nairobi ni yetu” — Nairobi is ours.

 

 

Nairobi is the cradle of Benga, a guitar-driven sound that shaped East African music. But it doesn’t stop there — Nairobi is also home to Gengetone, a raw, street-inspired music genre that’s taking over East Africa.

 

Artists like Sauti Sol, Nyashinski, Khaligraph Jones, and Otile Brown carry Nairobi’s voice across the world. At night, Nairobi comes alive in clubs across Westlands, Ngong Road, and Karen, where Afropop, dancehall, and Gengetone rule.

 

 

No visit to Nairobi is complete without nyama choma — roasted meat, usually goat, served with ugali and kachumbari. Street vendors sell samosas, chapati, and mandazi, while cafes brew Kenyan coffee, among the best in the world.

 

For locals, sharing food is sharing life — nyama choma joints are where deals are made, friends gather, and stories are told.

 

 

 

Karen Blixen Museum – the home of the Out of Africa author, where colonial history meets literature.

Nairobi is a city of dreamers and doers. Its young people are building startups in Silicon Savannah, shaping Africa’s tech future. It’s where music, art, and fashion fuse with activism, where protests meet poetry, and where hope fights through hardship.

 

As Nairobians say: “Hakuna Matata” — no worries. But also: “Twende kazi” — let’s get to work. That balance of joy and hustle is what keeps the city moving.

 

 

This is Nairobi — a city where wildlife meets WiFi, where cultures collide and blend, where every street has a story, and every voice adds to the chorus of East Africa.

 

Stay tuned — because African Cities Uncovered is only just beginning.