View Nairobi City Main Features in a larger map
Location
Nairobi City is the largest capital city of The Republic of Kenya. It about 140 km from the eastern edge of the Eastern Rift Valley and about 140 km south of the equator. The city is located at 1°28′S36°82′E and occupies an area of 696 square kilometers. Nairobi City is about 16.5 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. History
The name ‘Nairobi’ originates from Maasai name of the area, “enkare nyorobi,” meaning “a place of cool waters”. Nairobi was founded in 1899 and declared a municipality in 1935 and attained a city status on 30th March, 1950
Population According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nairobi had a population of 3,138,369 people in 2009
Mayors
The following is a list of Mayors of Nairobi City;
| Term begin | Term end | Mayor | |
| 1923 | 1924 | Edgah Henderson | |
| 1924 | 1925 | Charles Udall | |
| 1925 | 1927 | James Riddell | |
| 1927 | 1929 | Alfred Thomas Wood | |
| 1929 | 1930 | Charles Udall | |
| 1930 | 1931 | Franze Rudolf Mayer | |
| 1931 | 1933 | James Riddell | |
| 1933 | 1934 | Joseph Mortimer | |
| 1934 | 1936 | Edward (George) Gwinnett Bompas | |
| 1936 | 1937 | Alfred Thomas Wood | |
| 1937 | 1938 | Joseph Mortimer | |
| 1938 | 1940 | Lady Gwladys Delamere | |
| 1941 | 1942 | Ernest Albert Vasey | |
| 1942 | 1944 | Charles Udall | |
| 1944 | 1946 | Ernest Albert Vasey | |
| 1946 | 1947 | Tyson George Alfred | |
| 1949 | 1950 | Frederick George Richard Woodley | |
| 1950 | 1952 | Norman Harris | |
| 1952 | 1953 | Dr. J.R. Gregory | |
| 1953 | 1954 | Harold Travis | |
| 1954 | 1955 | Reggie S. Alexander | |
| 1957 | 1959 | Israel Somen | |
| 1959 | 1960 | Marjorie Needham-Clarke | |
| 1961 | 1962 | Harold Travis | |
| 1963 | 1967 | Charles Rubia | |
| 1967 | 1970 | Isack Lugonzo | |
| 1970 | 1976 | Margaret Kenyatta | |
| 1977 | 1980 | Andrew Ngumba | |
| 1980 | 1983 | Nathan Kahara | |
| 1983 | 1992 | VACANT | |
| 1993 | 1994 | Steve Flavian Mwangi | |
| 1994 | 1996 | Dick Waweru | |
| 1996 | 1998 | John King’ori | |
| 1998 | 1999 | Sammy Mbugua | |
| 1999 | 2001 | John Ndirangu | |
| 2001 | 2002 | Dick Waweru | |
| 2003 | 2004 | Joe Aketch | |
| 2004 | 2008 | Dickson Wathika | |
| 2009 | 2010 | Geoffrey Majiwa | |
| 2010 | To date | George Aladwa |
In 1983, the City Council of Nairobi was abolished by government and replaced by a City Commission appointed by the President. Nairobi City had therefore no Mayors from 1983 until 1992.
Transport
Nairobi is connected by good paved roads to Kenya’s other major urban centers. It is also served by buses, mini-buses, shared taxis, trains and by air through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport.
Administration
The city is divided into 8 divisions which also serve as Parliamentary Constituencies;
Each division is headed by a district officer. Nairobi city lies in Nairobi County headed by Governor Dr. Evans Kidero.
HQ of International Organization
The following International Organizations have their African headquarters in Nairobi City;
- World Bank
- United Nations Offices
- IMF
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme
- United Nations Environment Programme
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
Green City in the Sun
Nairobi’s beautiful green foliage has earned her an identity of the “Green City in the Sun’’.
The Safari Capital of the World
Nairobi City is the only city in the world with a national park in its boundaries and has come to be known as “The Safari Capital of the World“. The wildlife including Zebras, Wildebeests, Buffalos, Giraffes, Rhinos, Cheetahs, and Lions are all living wild within 20 minutes of the Nairobi City Centre.