whats the capital of kenya?

Answer 1

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, lying on the Nairobi River in the south of the nation. It is and also capital of the administrative area of Nairobi. Nairobi has the highest urban population in East Africa, with an estimated population of between 3 and 4 million (according to the 1999 Census, in the administrative area of Nairobi lived 2,143,254 inhabitants within 684 Km²). Since its foundation as a railway camp in 1899, Nairobi has grown to become the largest city in Kenya, and one of the largest cities in Africa.

History

An aerial of Nairobi, the central business district and Ngong RoadThe area was an essentially uninhabited swamp until in 1899 a supply depot of the Uganda Railway was built, which soon became the railway's headquarters. The city was named after a water hole known in Maasai as Ewaso Nyirobi, meaning "cool waters". It was totally rebuilt in the early 1900s after an outbreak of plague and the burning of the original town.

Nairobi replaced Mombasa as the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate in 1905. The railway brought wealth into the city, which made it grow dramatically. It then became Kenya's second largest town after Mombasa.

In 1901 it became the capital of the British protectorate, and the city grew around administration and tourism, initially in the form of big game hunting. As the British colonialists started to explore the region, they started using Nairobi as their first port of call. This prompted the colonial government to build several grand hotels in the city. The main occupants were British game hunters.

Nairobi continued to grow under the British rule, and many British peoples settled within the city's suburbs. The continuous expansion of the city began to anger the Maasai people, as the city was devouring their land to the south. It also angered the Kikuyu people, who wanted the land returned to them.

In 1919, Nairobi was declared to be a municipality. Between the years of 1920 and 1950, the number of white settlers within Nairobi rose from 9,000 to 80,000. There was, however, friction that existed between these settlers and the local peoples. Nairobi was granted city status in 1954.

After the end of World War II, this friction developed into the Mau Mau rebellion. Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's future president, was jailed for his involvement even though there was no evidence linking him to the rebellion. Pressure exerted from the locals onto the British resulted in Kenyan independence in 1963, with Nairobi as the capital of the new republic. After independence, Nairobi grew rapidly and this growth put pressure on the city's infrastructure. Power cuts and water shortages were a common occurrence, though in the past few years better city planning has helped to put some these problems in check.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi was bombed in August 1998 by Al-Qaida, killing over 200 civilians, one of a series of U.S. embassy bombings. It is now the site of a memorial park.

[edit]
Culture
Nairobi is a cosmopolitan and multicultural religious city, with many immigrants from former British colonies, including India, Somalia and Sudan. This is highlighted in the number of churches, mosques, temples and gurdwaras within the city. As a reflection of the cities multicultural composition, the night life offers a diverse range of watering holes.

Nairobi has the informal title "The Green City in the Sun."

[edit]
Geography and climate

Nairobi skyline viewed from WestlandsThe city is located at 1°16′S 36°48′E and occupies around 150 km². It is situated about 1660 metres (5450 feet) above sea level.

Nairobi is situated between the cities of Kampala and Mombasa. It is close to the Rift Valley. The Ngong hills are towards the west, Mount Kenya is towards the North and Mount Kilimanjaro is towards the south-east. As Nairobi is adjacent to the Rift Valley, minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally occur. The Nairobi River and its tributaries traverse through the Nairobi Province. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai has fought fiercely to save the indigenous Karura Forest in northern Nairobi which is under threat of being replaced by housing other infrastructure. Parks in the city include Uhuru Park, Central Park and Nairobi Arboretum.

At 1860 metres, Nairobi enjoys a fairly moderate climate. The altitude makes for some chilly evenings but it is never cold. The sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average the mid-twenties during the day. The temperature usually peaks at 25°C. There are two rainy seasons but rainfall is only moderate. The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle.

Nairobis western suburbs stretch all the way from the Kenyatta National Hospital in the south to the UN headquarters and Gigiri in the north - a distance of about 20km.

The city centres on City Square, around which lie the Kenyan Parliament buildings, the Holy Family Cathedral, Nairobi City Hall, Jomo Kenyatta's mausoleum and the most upmarket shops. It also has the Kenya National Theatre, Kenya National Archives, Mzizi Arts Centre and Kenyatta International Conference Centre. Other attractions include the Ramoma Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, All Saints Cathedral and several markets.

Suburbs of the city include Langata and Karen, both known for British immigrants, Kibera, a large, working class area, Kariokor, Jevanje, Parklands, Westlands, Chiromo, Hurlingham, Milimani, Nairobi Hill, Mutuini, Hardy and Banda.

[edit]
Business and economy

The I&M Bank Headquarters in Nairobi, KenyaNairobi is the headquarters of several international companies and organizations. This makes it one of the most influential cities in Africa. The United Nations has strong presence in Nairobi, as two of its departments, UNEP and UN-Habitat have headquarters in Nairobi.

Goods manufactured in Nairobi include clothing, textiles, building materials, processed foods, beverages and cigarettes.

Nairobi has a large tourist industry, being both a tourist destination and a transport hub.

[edit]
Tourism
Nairobi is not a prime tourist destination, but it does have several tourist attractions. The most famous is the Nairobi National Park. It is the only national park to border a capital city, or city of this size. The park contains many animals including lions and giraffes. Nairobi also has more species of birds than any other capital city in the world.

Nairobi has several museums. These include the Nairobi Railway Museum and the National Museum of Kenya, which houses many artefacts including the full remains of a homo erectus boy.

Nairobi hotels include the Panari Hotel, the Hilton, Intercontinental Hotel, Safari Park, the Grand Regency and the Norfolk Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel in the city.

Nairobi is also home to the largest ice rink in Africa, the Panari Sky Centre. The rink covers 15,000 square metres and can accommodate 200 people.

[edit]
Places of interest
Nairobi National Park
Karen Blixen Museum
National Archives
Bomas of Kenya
Giraffe Centre
Safari park
The Carnivore Restaurant
[edit]
Transport

Nairobi TrafficNairobi is served primarily by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It is the largest airport in the region and handled 4 million passengers in 2004. This airport is usually the first port of call for most tourists visiting Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Wilson Airport is a small, busy airport to the west of Nairobi. It handles small aircraft that generally operate within Kenya. Eastleigh Airport was the original landing strip in the pre-jet airline era. It was used in a landing point on the 1930s and 1940s British passenger and mail route from Southampton to Cape Town. This route was served by flying boats between Britain and Kisumu and then by land-based aircraft on the routes to the south.

Matatus — privately-owned minibuses — are the most popular form of local transport, and generally transport up to 12 people. In 2004, a law was passed in which all matatus had to include seat-belts, speed governors, and all be painted in a uniform white with yellow band across it[citation needed]. Many deaths had been caused by dangerous driving and overcrowding in matatus.

Nairobi was founded as a railway town, and the Kenya Railways (KR) main headquarters are still situated there, near the city centre. The line runs through Nairobi, from Mombasa to Kampala. Its main use is freight traffic, but regular nightly passenger trains connect Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu. A number of morning and evening commuter trains connect the centre with the suburbs, but the city has no proper light rail, tramway or subway lines. A JKI airport shuttle rail service is being contemplated. Most peoples travel by matatu, bus, car, or by foot and bicycle, and the city is very frequently jammed.

[edit]
Central business district and skyline
Nairobi grew around the central business district. It takes a rectangular shape, around the Uhuru Highway, Haille Selasse Avenue, Moi Avenue and University Way. It includes many of Nairobi's important buildings, including the City Hall and Parliament Building. The city square is also located within the perimeter.

A feature of the central business district that strikes foreign tourists the most is the skyline. Nairobi's skyline has been compared to many Asian and American cities. This is due to a construction boom after independence, and another construction boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Most of the skyscrapers in this region are the headquarters of businesses and corporations, such as I&M. The United States Embassy bombing took place in this district, prompting the new embassy building to be located in the suburbs.

In 2006, a large beautification project took place in the CBD, as the city prepared to host the 2006 Afri-Cities summit. Iconic buildings such as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre had their exteriors cleaned and repainted.

The district is bordered to the south-west by Nairobi's largest park: Uhuru Park and Central Park. The Mombasa to Kampala railway runs to the south-east of the district.


Today, many businesses have, or are considering relocating or establishing their headquarters outside the Central Business District. This is because land is cheaper, and better facilities can be easily built and maintained elsewhere. Two areas that are seeing a growth in companies and office-space are Upper Hill, approximately 2km from the CBD and Westlands, approximately the same distance. Companies that have moved from the CBD to Upper Hill include Citibank.

To accomodate the large demand for floorspace in Nairobi, various commercial projects are being constructed. New business parks are being built along Mombasa Road, including the flagship Nairobi Business Park. Nairobi is currently being considered by a Middle-Eastern company, interested in building a high-rise headquarters in Africa.

[edit]
List of Nairobi's tallest skyscrapers
Times Tower (140m)
Kenyatta International Conference Centre (105m)
NSSF Building (103m)
I&M Bank Tower (100m)
Government Office Conference Hall (98m)
[edit]
Housing Conditions

Between 500,000 and a million people in Nairobi live in the Kibera slum, the largest and poorest slum in Africa.Between 500,000 to a million people in Nairobi live in Kibera, the largest and poorest slum in Africa[1], which dates from a 1920 settlement for Nubian soldiers ("Kibera" is the Nubian word for "forest"). The slums cover two square kilometres[2].

Most Nairobi non slum-dwellers, live in relatively good housing conditions. Large houses can be found in many neighbourhoods, especially to the west of Nairobi. To accomodate the growing middle-class, many new apartments and housing developments are being built in and around the city. The most noteable development is Greenpark, at Athi River town, 25km from Nairobi's CBD. Over 5,000 houses, villas and apartments are being constructed at this development, including leisure, retail and commercial facilities. The development is being marketed at families, as are most within the city.

[edit]
Crime
Nairobi has struggled with rising crime, earning a reputation for being a dangerous city and the nickname "nairobbery." In 2001, the United Nations International Civil Service Commission rated Nairobi as among the most insecure cities in the world, classifying the city as "status C." The head of one development agency cited the "notoriously high levels of violent armed robberies, burglaries and carjackings."[3]

Crime had risen within Nairobi, as many people left the countryside for the city. They then have no money, and have no option but to settle in slums such as Kibera.

Most large houses now have a watchguard and dogs to patrol their grounds during the night. Tourists are advised not to show valuables, and try to avoid the city centre at night

Answer 2

Capital Of Kenya

Answer 3

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also form Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to "cool water". For more you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nairobi

Answer 4

Nairobi

Answer 5

Nairobi

Answer 6

Nairobi

Answer 7

Nairobi, this became the capital in 1963. A quick search online can give you many more details if your interested.

Answer 8

Nairobi. Jesus needs 10 points.

Answer 9

nairobi
a city with a great vibe and a large expat population (lots of Indian's - there is a Hindu temple) and some decent restaurants
its not that safe at night so stick to well lit and popular areas and always keep your car doors locked
the majority of people are very friendly and welcoming

Answer 10

Watts

Answer 11

I am gonna say..nairobi