94-400: Kilindini Harbour is a large, natural deep-water inlet extending inland from Mombasa , Kenya . It is 25–30 fathoms (46–55 m) at its deepest center, although the controlling depth is the outer channel in the port approaches with a dredged depth of 17.5 m (57 ft). It serves as the harbour for Mombasa , with a hinterland extending to Uganda . Kilindini Harbour is the main part of
188-520: A city-county . The county is entirely urban. It had only one local council, Nairobi City Council which was replaced by Nairobi City County after the new constitution was effected in March 2013. Nairobi County has 17 constituencies. Constituency name may differ from division name, such that Starehe Constituency is equal to Central Division, Lang'ata Constituency to Kibera division, and Kamukunji Constituency to Pumwani Division in terms of boundaries. Nairobi
282-605: A nine-day general strike in the city. Nairobi remained the capital of Kenya after independence, and its continued rapid growth put pressure on the city's infrastructure with power cuts and water shortages becoming a common occurrence. On 11 September 1973, the Kenyatta International Conference Centre KICC was open to the public. The 28-storey building at the time was designed by the Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik and Kenyan David Mutiso. It
376-551: A ria , formed millions of years ago when the sea level rose and engulfed a river that was flowing from the mainland. Mombasa has a centuries-old history as a harbour city. The Kilindini harbour was inaugurated in 1896 when work started on the construction of the Uganda Railway . During World War II , while Kenya was a British colony, Kilindini became the temporary base of the British Eastern Fleet from early 1942 until
470-501: A campaign by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai . Central Park is adjacent to Uhuru Park, and includes a memorial for Jomo Kenyatta , the first president of Kenya, and the Moi Monument, built in 1988 to commemorate the second president's first decade in power. Other notable open spaces include Jeevanjee Gardens , City Park, 7 August Memorial Park , and Nairobi Arboretum. The colonial 1948 Master Plan for Nairobi still acts as
564-514: A cathedral worthy of faith and country; museums and of art; theatres and public offices. And it is fair to say that the Government and the Municipality have already bravely tackled the problem and that a town-plan ambitious enough to turn Nairobi into a thing of beauty has been slowly worked out, and much has already been done. But until that plan has borne fruit, Nairobi must remain what she was then,
658-477: A former Kenyan Independence politician and assassination victim. On 9 November 2012, President Mwai Kibaki opened the KES 31 billion Thika Superhighway. This mega-project of Kenya started in 2009 and ended in 2011. It involved expanding the four-lane carriageway to eight lanes, building underpasses, providing interchanges at roundabouts, erecting flyovers and building underpasses to ease congestion. The 50.4-kilometre road
752-460: A general lack of infrastructure. Poverty, lack of sanitation, and unemployment continue to be the greatest issues for the Mikindani Township, which have ensured low health and safety standards for its residents. Poor, lower class housing is widespread, ranging from simple stone, two-storey structures to mud and earth homes fitted with corrugated iron roofs. Much of the community works outside of
846-874: A hub. Nairobi has not been left behind by the FinTech phenomenon that has taken over worldwide. It has produced a couple of tech firms like Craft Silicon, Kangai Technologies, Jambo Pay and Hostraha Limited Archived 16 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine . which have been in the forefront of technology, innovation and cloud based computing services. Their products are widely used and have considerable market share presence within Kenya and outside its borders. Goods manufactured in Nairobi include clothing, textiles, building materials, processed foods , beverages, and cigarettes. Several foreign companies have factories based in and around
940-479: A majority for the first time. This growth caused planning issues, described by Thorntorn White Archived 22 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine and his planning team as the "Nairobi Problem". In February 1926, colonial officer Eric Dutton passed through Nairobi on his way to Mount Kenya , and said of the city: Maybe one day Nairobi will be laid out with tarred roads, with avenues of flowering trees, flanked by noble buildings; with open spaces and stately squares;
1034-573: A minaret that contains a regionally specific ogee arch. The city later came under the occupation and control of the Omani Empire in the late 17th century. In the late pre-colonial period, it was the metropolis of a plantation society, which became dependent on slave labour based around the ivory trade. Throughout the early modern period, Mombasa was a key node in the complex and far reaching Indian Ocean trading networks. Its key exports then were ivory, millet , sesamum and coconuts . Today, Mombasa
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#17330943121081128-414: A new international and domestic passenger terminal building, the airport's first dedicated cargo and freight terminal, new taxiways, associated aprons, internal roads, car parks, police and fire stations, a State Pavilion, airfield and roadway lighting, fire hydrant system, water, electrical, telecommunications and sewage systems, a dual carriageway passenger access road, security, drainage and the building of
1222-520: A prosperous trading town in the 12th century, as the Arab geographer al-Idrisi mentions it in 1151. The oldest stone mosque in Mombasa, Mnara, was built c. 1300. The Mandhry Mosque, built in 1570, has a minaret that contains a regionally specific ogee arch. This suggests that Swahili architecture was an indigenous African product rather than being adopted from non-African Muslims who brought stone architecture to
1316-505: A rail depot on the Uganda - Kenya Railway. It was favoured by the authorities as an ideal resting place due to its high elevation , temperate climate , and adequate water supply. The town quickly grew to replace Mombasa as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya . During Kenya's early period, the city became a centre for
1410-605: A slatternly creature, unfit to queen it over so lovely a country. After World War II , continuous expansion of the city angered both the indigenous Maasai and Kikuyu . This led to the Mau Mau Uprising in the 1950s, and the Lancaster House Conferences , which initiated a transition to Kenyan independence in 1963. In the spring of 1950, the East African Trades Union Congress (EAUTC) led
1504-527: Is Uhuru Park . The park borders the central business district and the neighbourhood Upper Hill. Uhuru ( Freedom in Swahili ) Park is a centre for outdoor speeches, services, and rallies. The park was to be built over by former President Daniel arap Moi , who wanted the 62-storey headquarters of his party, the Kenya African National Union , situated in the park. However, the park was saved following
1598-401: Is a place of great traffic and has a good harbour in which there are always moored small craft of many kinds and also great ships, both of which are bound from Sofala and others which come from Cambay and Melinde and others which sail to the island of Zanzibar ." Vasco da Gama was the first known European to visit Mombasa, receiving a chilly reception in 1498. Two years later, the town
1692-634: Is a tourism-based town, home to one of the state houses , with an extra-large port and an international airport . Sultan of Mombasa Before 1300 [REDACTED] Kilwa Sultanate 1300–1513 [REDACTED] Portuguese Empire 1593–1698 [REDACTED] Imamate of Oman 1698–1728 [REDACTED] Portuguese Empire 1728–1729 [REDACTED] Imamate of Oman 1729–1824 [REDACTED] British Empire 1824–1826 [REDACTED] Sultanate of Muscat and Oman 1826–1887 [REDACTED] British East Africa / Kenya 1887–1963 [REDACTED] Kenya 1963–present The founding of Mombasa
1786-407: Is also being built which will link Naivasha to the existing route and also the Uganda border. On 11 August 2020, Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi resigned. On 21 December 2020, recently elected Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura was sworn in as acting Nairobi Governor four days after the previous Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was impeached and removed from office. At
1880-663: Is also home to one of the largest open-air markets in the African Great Lakes. Bamburi is an outlying township (fifteen minutes drive) along the Malindi road. It is home to Bamburi Cement factory, the largest cement plant in the East African region. Other notable features in the area are the Jomo Kenyatta public beach, commonly known as Pirates, and Haller Park , a nature trail and wildlife conservatory. Kiembeni Estate, also in
1974-579: Is also home to the Akamba Handicraft Cooperative. Nairobi Nairobi ( / n aɪ ˈ r oʊ b i / ny- ROH -bee ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya . The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in
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#17330943121082068-549: Is associated with two rulers: Mwana Mkisi and Shehe Mvita. According to legend, Mwana Mkisi is the original ancestor of Mombasa's oldest lineages within Thenashara Taifa (or Twelve Nations). Families associated with the Twelve Nations are still considered the original inhabitants of the city. Mwana Mkisi was a queen from the pre-Islamic era, who founded Kongowea, the original urban settlement on Mombasa Island. Significantly,
2162-448: Is claimed by the Kenyan government to have a population of 185,777. However, non-governmental sources generally estimate the slum to have a population of 500,000 to 1,000,000, depending on what areas are defined as comprising Kibera. Nairobi has many parks and open spaces throughout the city. Much of the city has dense tree-cover and plenty of green spaces. The most famous park in Nairobi
2256-646: Is commemorated by many English place-names. Most lower-middle and upper middle income neighbourhoods are located in the north-central areas such as Highridge, Parklands, Ngara, Pangani, and areas to the southwest and southeast of the metropolitan area near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The most notable ones include Avenue Park, Fedha, Pipeline, Donholm, Greenfields, Nyayo, Taasia, Baraka, Nairobi West, Madaraka, Siwaka, South B, South C, Mugoya, Riverbank, Hazina, Buru Buru, Uhuru, Harambee Civil Servants', Akiba, Kimathi, Pioneer, and Koma Rock to
2350-593: Is derived from the Arabic words "Qadru r-Rahman" meaning "Decree of (God) the Merciful". Ganjoni : Primarily a middle class residential area, home of second biggest dry dock of Africa after the one in South Africa. Tudor : Another middle class residential area with homes and shops. The Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) is situated in this neighbourhood. Nyali , also considered a prime and up-market residential area, it
2444-522: Is divided into 17 constituencies and 85 wards , mostly named after residential estates. Kibera Division, for example, includes Kibera (Kenya's largest slum) as well as affluent estates of Karen and Langata . The Nairobi GPO (General Post Office) Postal code is 00100 Nairobi is home to the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), one of Africa's largest stock exchanges . The NSE was officially recognised as an overseas stock exchange by
2538-454: Is in Baghani. Englani: Part of Old town between Kibokoni and Makadara. Kuze: Part of Old Town with Swahili culture and architecture. Originally flourishing with Swahili people but becoming a more cosmopolitan neighbourhood. Makadara : Part of Old Town consisting of a high number of descendants of Baluchi former soldiers who settled within this area before it developed into a town. The name
2632-486: Is on the mainland north of the island and is linked by the New Nyali Bridge . It has numerous beach front hotels in the area known as the "North Coast". Nyali has two distinct sections – the upmarket Old Nyali and the upcoming New Nyali. For many residents, Nyali has now become a self-contained residential area, with two Nakumatts , a multiplex cinema, shopping malls, banks, schools and post offices. This often eliminates
2726-650: Is one of the largest stock exchanges in Africa and the second-oldest exchange on the continent. It is Africa's fourth-largest stock exchange in terms of trading volume, capable of making 10 million trades a day. It also contains the Nairobi National Park . Nairobi joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2010. Nairobi was founded in 1899 by colonial authorities in British East Africa , as
2820-654: Is separated from the mainland by two creeks : Tudor Creek and Kilindini Harbour . It is connected to the mainland to the north by the Nyali Bridge , to the south by the Likoni Ferry , and to the west by the Makupa Causeway , alongside which runs the Kenya-Uganda Railway . The port serves both Kenya and countries of the interior, linking them to the ocean. The city is served by Moi International Airport located in
2914-496: Is situated between the cities of Kampala and Mombasa. As Nairobi is adjacent to the eastern edge of the Rift Valley , minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally occur. The Ngong Hills , located to the west of the city, are the most prominent geographical feature of the Nairobi area. Mount Kenya is situated north of Nairobi, and Mount Kilimanjaro is towards the south-east. The Nairobi River and its tributaries traverse through
Kilindini Harbour - Misplaced Pages Continue
3008-463: Is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal. The seasons are referred to as the wet season and dry season . The timing of sunrise and sunset varies little throughout the year for the same reason. Nairobi is divided into a series of constituencies with each being represented by members of Parliament in the National Assembly. The initial constituencies before
3102-514: Is the only building within the city with a helipad that is open to the public. Of the buildings built in the Seventies, the KICC was the most eco-friendly and most environmentally conscious structure; its main frame was constructed with locally available materials gravel, sand, cement and wood, and it had wide open spaces which allowed for natural aeration and natural lighting. Cuboids made up the plenary hall,
3196-764: Is to ease traffic flow to Kenya's South Coast. Construction is to begin in late 2013. Construction was completed in July 2024 and is now operational. A new international seaport, the Lamu Port is under construction in Lamu . Lamu Port is to be larger than Kilindini Harbour but the Kenya Ports Authority says that the two ports won't compete but complement each other. The port will have 32 berths and dredged entrance channel done to 18 m (59 ft) to enable it to accommodate ships of 120,000 DWT ( Post-Panamax Vessels ) The cost for
3290-585: The Japanese naval threat to Colombo , Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ) had been removed. Nearby, the Far East Combined Bureau , an outstation of the British code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park , was housed in a requisitioned school (Allidina Visram High School, Mombasa) and had success in breaking Japanese naval codes . On 29 August 2013, expansion of the port enabled it to handle Panamax Vessels. The project
3384-489: The London Stock Exchange in 1953. The exchange is Africa's fourth largest in terms of trading volumes, and fifth largest in terms of Market Capitalization as a percentage of GDP. Nairobi is the regional headquarters of several international companies and organisations. In 2007, General Electric , Young & Rubicam , Google , Coca-Cola , IBM Services , and Cisco Systems relocated their African headquarters to
3478-451: The Port of Mombasa , the only international seaport in Kenya and the biggest port in east Africa . It is managed by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). Apart from cargo handling, Mombasa is frequented by cruise ships . Kilindini is a Swahili term meaning "deep down" or "in the depths" in reference to the depth of the channel. Kilindini Harbor is an example of a natural geographic phenomenon called
3572-443: The Swahili people . Shehe Mvitaff superseded the dynasty of Mwana Mkisi and established the first permanent stone mosque on Mombasa Island. Mombasa's oldest extant stone mosque, Mnara, was built c. 1300. Shehe Mvita is remembered as a Muslim of great learning and so is connected more directly with the present ideals of Swahili culture that people identify with Mombasa. The ancient history associated with Mwana Mkisi and Shehe Mvita and
3666-550: The capture of Fort Jesus in 1698, the town came under the influence of the Imamate of Oman , subordinate to the Omani rulers on the island of Unguja , prompting regular local rebellions. Oman appointed three consecutive Governors (Wali in Arabic, Liwali in Swahili ): Mombasa was briefly returned to Portuguese rule by captain-major Álvaro Caetano de Melo Castro (12 March 1728 – 21 September 1729), then four new Omani Liwali until 1746, when
3760-421: The coffee , tea and sisal industries. The city lies in the south central part of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft). The site of Nairobi was originally a swamp land occupied by a pastoralist people, the Maasai , the sedentary Akamba People , as well as the agriculturalist Kikuyu people . The name Nairobi itself comes from the Maasai expression meaning 'cool waters', referring to
3854-424: The 1980s. The City of Nairobi enjoys the status of a full administrative county . Initially, Nairobi was one of the eight provinces in Kenya before 2013. The Nairobi province differed in several ways from other Kenyan regions. Nairobi Province was not divided into "districts" until 2007, when three districts were created. In 2010, along with the new constitution, Nairobi was renamed a county and consolidated into
Kilindini Harbour - Misplaced Pages Continue
3948-591: The 2010 constitution which led to the county electoral boundaries being redrawn were: Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe, Langata , Dagoretti, Westlands , Kasarani, and Embakasi . The new electoral boundaries after this were revised to Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Embakasi Central, Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe, Mathare, Westlands, Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Langata, Kibra, Ruaraka, Roysambu and Kasarani. The main administrative divisions of Nairobi are Central, Dagoretti, Embakasi , Kasarani, Kibera , Makadara, Pumwani, and Westlands . Most of
4042-704: The 2019 census. The city is commonly referred to as 'The Green City in the Sun'. Nairobi is home of the Kenyan Parliament Buildings and hosts thousands of Kenyan businesses and key international companies and organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)
4136-459: The Bamburi area, hosts around 100,000 residents. The estate has its own supermarket, several retail shops, salons and boutiques, and a number of licensed drinking dens. The establishments include The Shilla Bar, Turkey Base, Stars Garden and Sensera pub. Kiembeni is arguably the largest estate in Mombasa, and growing even faster. Other areas include, Shanzu , Mkomani, Bombolulu , Kisauni and, across
4230-666: The British East Africa Association, later the Imperial British East Africa Company . It came under British administration in 1895. It soon became the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate and the sea terminal of the Uganda Railway , construction of which was started in 1896. Many workers were brought in from British India to build the railway, and the city's fortunes revived. The Sultan of Zanzibar formally presented
4324-538: The City Hall and Parliament Building. The city square is also located within the perimeter. Most of the skyscrapers in this region are the headquarters of businesses and corporations, such as I&M and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre . The United States Embassy bombing took place in this district, prompting the building of a new embassy building in the suburbs. In 2011, the city
4418-850: The Government Training Institute (GTI) Mombasa are all in Kizingo as well. Central Business District: The Mombasa central business district across the TSS building roundabout, Moi Avenue, and Nyerere Avenue is densely populated. Organizations such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and businesses such as Banks (ABSA, I&M Ltd, Bank of India Ltd), Insurance Firms (Nomura Insurance Brokers, Masumali Meghji Insurance), and Audit Firms (Anant Bhatt LLP, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, Mazars LLP, Deloitte LLP, and PKF LLP) are located here. Kibokoni : Part of Old Town with Swahili architecture. Fort Jesus
4512-552: The June/July season, when the temperature can drop to 9 °C (48 °F). The sunniest and warmest part of the year is from December to March, when temperatures average in the high-twenties Celsius during the day. The mean maximum temperature for this period is 28 °C (82 °F). There are rainy seasons, but rainfall can be moderate. The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle. As Nairobi
4606-494: The Kenyan government's Affordable Housing Program , various housing developments are underway to accommodate the city's growing population. The city is situated at 1°09′S 36°39′E / 1.150°S 36.650°E / -1.150; 36.650 ( Nairobi, Kenya ) and 1°27′S 37°06′E / 1.450°S 37.100°E / -1.450; 37.100 ( Nairobi, Kenya ) and occupies 696 square kilometres (270 sq mi). Nairobi
4700-664: The Likoni Riots of 1997. The Liwatoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge was built and designed to ease pressure on the Likoni ferry crossing by taking up most of the foot traffic, leaving the ferries to serve vehicular and cargo crossing between Mombasa Island and the South Coast. Diani Beach : a beach resort area situated over the Likoni Ferry on the south coast of Mombasa. It is located some 36 km (22 miles) south of Mombasa city on
4794-499: The Mtwapa creek, the popular area of Mtwapa , which is already located in Kilifi county. The North Coast has an entertainment industry which attracts locals and tourists. Likoni : is a lower income and lower-middle-class neighbourhood connected to Mombasa Island by ferry. It is south of Mombasa Island and is made up of mostly Swahili and non-Swahili Bantu tribes. The ferry was the target of
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#17330943121084888-599: The Nairobi County and joins the larger River Athi on the eastern edge of the county. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai fought fiercely to save the indigenous Karura Forest in northern Nairobi which was under threat of being replaced by housing and other infrastructure. Nairobi's western suburbs stretch all the way from the Kenyatta National Hospital in the south to the UN headquarters at Gigiri suburb in
4982-545: The Short-term Plan for Lamu Port Project, including the first 3 berths, is estimated to be US$ 664 million. The First Phase is to be completed by 2016. Mombasa Mombasa ( / m ɒ m ˈ b æ s ə / mom- BASS -ə ; also US : /- ˈ b ɑː s ə / - BAH -sə ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean . It was the first capital of British East Africa , before Nairobi
5076-462: The Swahili Coast. During the pre-modern period, Mombasa was an important centre for the trade in spices, gold, and ivory . Its trade links reached as far as India and China. Oral historians today can still recount this period of local history. Indian history shows that there were trade links between Mombasa and Cholas of South India . Throughout the early modern period, Mombasa was a key node in
5170-730: The Zimba slaughtered the Muslim inhabitants, but they were halted at Malindi by the Bantu-speaking Segeju and went home. This stimulated the Portuguese to take over Mombasa a third time in 1589, and four years later they built Fort Jesus to administer the region. Between Lake Malawi and the Zambezi mouth, Kalonga Mzura made an alliance with the Portuguese in 1608 and fielded 4,000 warriors to help defeat their rival Zimba, who were led by chief Lundi. After
5264-489: The area during his travels to the Swahili Coast . He noted the city, although he stayed only one night. He wrote that the people of Mombasa were Shafi'i Muslims, religious people, trustworthy and righteous. Their mosques were made of wood, expertly built. The exact founding date of the city is unknown, but it has a long history. Kenyan school history books place the founding of Mombasa as 900 A.D. It must have been already
5358-409: The building of Fort Jesus , Mombasa was put by the Portuguese under the rule of members of the ruling family of Malindi. In 1631 Dom Jeronimo , the ruler of Mombasa, slaughtered the Portuguese garrison in the city and defeated the relief force sent by the Portuguese. In 1632 Dom Jeronimo left Mombasa and became a pirate. That year the Portuguese returned and established direct rule over Mombasa. With
5452-583: The burning of the original town. Between 1902 and 1910, the town's population rose from 5,000 to 16,000 and grew around administration and tourism, initially in the form of big game hunting . In 1907, Nairobi replaced Mombasa as the capital of the East Africa Protectorate. In 1919, Nairobi was declared to be a municipality. In 1921, Nairobi had 24,000 residents, of which 12,000 were native Africans. The next decade saw growth in native African communities in Nairobi, and they began to constitute
5546-400: The centre-east and Kasarani to northeast area among others. The low and lower income estates are located mainly in far eastern Nairobi. These include, Umoja, Kariokor, Dandora , Kariobangi , Kayole , Ruai , Kamulu , Embakasi , and Huruma . Kitengela suburb, though located further southeast, Ongata Rongai and Kiserian further southwest, and Ngong/Embulbul suburbs also known as 'Diaspora' to
5640-586: The city in search of employment, mainly in service and manufacturing sector. The area is adjacent to the rich suburb of Nyali which employs a portion of the village residents. They are mainly hired as cheap labour as watchmen, gardeners, masons for up coming houses and house help. The most well known villages inside Kongowea include Kisumu Ndogo, Shauri Yako and Mnazi Mmoja, despite being located in this prime area, many residents live under extreme conditions – poor sanitation, high crime rate and lack of basic essential amenities like schools, hospitals and tap water. Kongowea
5734-437: The city wanted to be "the most photographed in Africa". Being a coastal town , Mombasa is characterised by a flat topography. The town of Mombasa is centred on Mombasa Island, but extends to the mainland. The island is separated from the mainland by two creeks , Port Reitz in the south and Tudor Creek in the north. Mombasa has a tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen : As ). The amount of rainfall essentially depends on
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#17330943121085828-724: The city's best-known monuments, were originally constructed in 1952 by the British administration of the Kenya Colony , commemorating the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the city. In 2018, as part of an effort to increase tourism, Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho issued a directive requiring that all buildings in the Old Town and the Central Business District be painted white with Egyptian blue trim and banned all signs from their walls or canopies. Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works County Executive Tawfiq Balala stated that
5922-469: The city. The United Nations Office at Nairobi hosts UN Environment and UN-Habitat headquarters. Several of Africa's largest companies are headquartered in Nairobi. Safaricom , the largest company in Kenya by assets and profitability is headquartered in Nairobi, KenGen, which is the largest African stock outside South Africa , is based in the city. Kenya Airways , Africa's fourth largest airline, uses Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as
6016-447: The city. These include Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company , General Motors , Toyota , and The Coca-Cola Company . Nairobi has a large tourist industry , being both a tourist destination and a transport hub. Nairobi has grown around its central business district . This takes a pentagonal shape, around the Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie Avenue, Moi Avenue, and University Way. It features many of Nairobi's important buildings, including
6110-432: The cold water stream which flowed through the area. With the arrival of the Uganda Railway , the site was identified by Sir George Whitehouse for a store depot, shunting ground and camping ground for the Indian labourers working on the railway. Whitehouse, chief engineer of the railway, favoured the site as an ideal resting place due to its high elevation, temperate climate, adequate water supply and being situated before
6204-458: The complex and far-reaching Indian Ocean trading networks. Its key exports were ivory, millet , sesamum and coconuts . Ivory caravans remained a major source of economic prosperity. Mombasa became the major port city of pre-colonial Kenya in the Middle Ages and was used to trade with other African port cities, the Persian Empire , the Arabian Peninsula, India and China. Sixteenth-century Portuguese voyager Duarte Barbosa wrote, "[Mombasa]
6298-466: The destruction of the city under Nuno da Cunha again in 1528 after the Malindi sultan failed to pay tribute . In 1585, a military expedition of the Ottoman Empire , led by Emir 'Ali Bey, successfully captured Mombasa, and other coastal cities in Southeast Africa from the Portuguese. However, Malindi remained loyal to Portugal. The Zimba overcame the towns of Sena and Tete on the Zambezi, and in 1587 they took Kilwa , killing 3,000 people. At Mombasa,
6392-413: The far west are considered part of the Greater Nairobi Metropolitan area. More than 90% of Nairobi residents work within the Nairobi Metropolitan area, in the formal and informal sectors. Many Somali immigrants have also settled in Eastleigh , nicknamed "Little Mogadishu ". Here is the list of all postal codes for Nairobi Archived 19 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine . The Kibera slum in Nairobi
6486-404: The founding of Mombasa as 900 A.D. It must have been already a prosperous trading town in the 12th century, as the Arab geographer al-Idrisi mentions it in 1151. It was a part of the Kilwa Sultanate from approximately the early 14th century until the dissolution of the sultanate in 1513 A.D. The oldest stone mosque in Mombasa, Mnara, was built c. 1300. The Mandhry Mosque, built in 1570, has
6580-470: The founding of an urban settlement on Mombasa Island is still linked to present-day peoples living in Mombasa. The Thenashara Taifa (or Twelve Nations) Swahili lineages recount this ancient history today and are the keepers of local Swahili traditions. Most of the early information on Mombasa comes from the writings of Portuguese chroniclers in the 16th century. The famous Moroccan scholar and traveller Ibn Battuta (1304 – 1368/1369) visited
6674-564: The governing mechanism when it comes to making decisions related to urban planning. The Master Plan at the time, which was designed for 250,000 people, allocated 28% of Nairobi's land to public space, but because of rapid population growth, much of the vitality of public spaces within the city are increasingly threatened. City Park, the only natural park in Nairobi, for example, was originally 60 ha (150 acres), but has since lost approximately 20 ha (50 acres) of land to private development through squatting and illegal alienation which began in
6768-467: The last of them made it independent again (disputed by Oman), as the first of its recorded Sultans: From 9 February 1824 to 25 July 1826, there was a British protectorate over Mombasa, represented by governors. Omani rule was restored in 1826; seven liwalis where appointed. On 24 June 1837, it was nominally annexed by Said bin Sultan of Muscat and Oman . On 25 May 1887 Mombasa was relinquished to
6862-494: The main access road to the airport (Airport South Road). The total cost of the project was more than US$ 29 million (US$ 111.8 million in 2013 dollars). On 14 March 1978, construction of the terminal building was completed on the other side of the airport's single runway and opened by President Jomo Kenyatta less than five months before his death. The airport was renamed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in memory of its first president. The Giraffe Centre , an animal sanctuary on
6956-511: The mainland coast and is a prime resort for many local and international tourists. Diani Beach has an airport at Ukunda town to cater for tourists who fly there directly from Nairobi Wilson or any other airports and airfields in the country. Magongo : is an outlying township 20 minutes driving distance northwest of Mombasa Island, situated on the Nairobi Highway. This fringe community lacks any effective electricity, water or sewer systems, with
7050-523: The names of both the queen and the city have linguistic and spiritual connections with Central Africa. "Mkisi" is considered the personification of "ukisi" , which means "the holy" in kiKongo . "Kongowea" can similarly be interpreted as the Swahili locative of "kongo" , which denotes the essence of civilizational order in central Africa. These legends can be read as an acknowledgement of the Bantu -speaking origins of
7144-645: The need for residents to cross the bridge and to go into the congested Mombasa city centre. Nyali is home for the Nyali Cinemax complex, Mamba Village, the Nyali Golf Club, and some of the most prestigious academic institutions of the Coast Province. Kongowea is a densely populated area with 15 villages, two sub-locations and an estimated population of 106,180 residents. Kongowea is a cosmopolitan settlement mainly inhabited by people from mainland who migrated into
7238-729: The north, a distance of about 20 kilometres (12 mi). The city is centred on the City Square, which is located in the Central Business District. The Kenyan Parliament buildings, the Holy Family Cathedral , Nairobi City Hall, Nairobi Law Courts, and the Kenyatta Convention Centre all surround the square. Under the Köppen climate classification , Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb). At 1,795 metres (5,889 ft) above sea level, evenings may be cool, especially in
7332-522: The northwest mainland suburb of Chaani. Mombasa CBD Kizingo: Considered the prime residential area of Mombasa. The State House of Mombasa, Provincial Headquarters, The Mombasa Law Courts, and the Municipal Council are located in Kizingo. The Aga Khan Academy, Aga Khan High School, Serani Primary School, Serani High School, Santokben Nursery School, Coast Academy, Jaffery Academy, Mombasa Primary School, Loreto Convent, Mama Ngina Girls' High School and
7426-569: The port to Uganda and Rwanda. The Kenyan Government has also started facilitating the development of a Free Port on a 1,200 ha (3,000 acres) of land owned by the Authority at Dongo Kundu area through public private partnership arrangements. Also underway is the Road Bypass project to link the project area and Mombasa – Lunga Lunga – Nairobi Highway. Known as the Dongo Kundu bypass the projects aim
7520-452: The railway, Whitehouse remarked that "Nairobi itself will in the course of the next two years become a large and flourishing place and already there are many applications for sites for hotels, shops and houses." The town's early years were however beset with problems of malaria leading to at least one attempt to have the town moved. In the early 1900s, Bazaar Street (now Biashara Street) was completely rebuilt after an outbreak of plague and
7614-399: The rest of Kenya , climate change is already creating challenges for the city: coastal erosion has become a problem for infrastructure in Mombasa. Due to rising sea levels , the coastline has been eroding at 2.5–20 cm (0.98–7.87 in) per year. This has increased the number of annual floods. Mombasa is located on Mombasa Island and sprawls to the surrounding mainlands. The island
7708-440: The season. The rainiest months are April and May, while rainfall is minimal between January and February. Located near the equator, Mombasa has only a slight seasonal temperature variation, with high temperatures ranging 28.8–33.7 °C (83.8–92.7 °F). As a seaport, Mombasa is subject to detrimental consequences of a fluctuating climate. In October 2006, Mombasa experienced a large flood that affected 60,000 people. Like
7802-556: The southwestern outskirts of Nairobi, was opened in 1983. To this day, it breeds the endangered species of Rothschild's giraffe . The United States Embassy, then located in downtown Nairobi, was bombed in August 1998 by Al-Qaeda and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad , as one of a series of US embassy bombings . It is now the site of a memorial park. On 20 October 2011, a memorial statue was unveiled in Nairobi in memory to Tom Mboya ,
7896-555: The steep ascent of the Limuru escarpments . His choice was however criticised by officials within the Protectorate government who felt the site was too flat, poorly drained and relatively infertile. During the pre-colonial era, the people of modern Kenya mostly lived in villages amongst their tribes and cultural groups, where they had rulers within their communities rather than one singular government or leader. In 1898, Arthur Church
7990-520: The time of Mutura's swearing in as acting Governor, which he will hold for at least 60 days, Nairobi did not have a Deputy Governor as well. Nairobi has seen several major infrastructure projects in recent years. The Nairobi Expressway , completed in 2022, was developed to reduce traffic congestion along Mombasa Road. Additionally, the Green Park Bus Terminal , part of efforts to improve public transport, began operations in 2021. In line with
8084-513: The tower consisted of a cylinder composed of several cuboids, and the amphitheater and helipad both resembled cones. The tower was built around a concrete core and it had no walls but glass windows, which allowed for maximum natural lighting. It had the largest halls in eastern and central Africa. A year prior in 1972, the World Bank approved funds for further expansion of the then Nairobi Airport (now Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ), including
8178-548: The town to the British in 1898. Mombasa became the capital of the Kenya Colony Protectorate of Kenya , sometime between 1887 and around 1906. The capital was later moved because medical officers warned that the ground was swampy, and urged Sir James Hayes Sadler , then Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate, to plead with London to move the town elsewhere to mitigate potential disease. Nairobi has since been Kenya's capital to date. The Mombasa tusks , one of
8272-494: The township, within Mombasa Island itself as there is a lack of employment and industry. There are a number of small health clinics, shops, and a few public primary schools: Nazarene primary is one school, which is known in particular as being staffed by a revolving volunteer teacher base from Western, and predominately English speaking nations. This small town serves as a link between the city and Moi International Airport. Magongo
8366-502: The upmarket suburbs are situated to the west and north-central of Nairobi, where most European settlers resided during the colonial times AKA 'Ubabini'. These include Karen , Langata , Lavington , Gigiri , Muthaiga , Brookside, Spring Valley, Loresho, Kilimani , Kileleshwa, Hurlingham, Runda , Kitisuru , Nyari, Kyuna, Lower Kabete , Westlands , and Highridge , although Kangemi, Kawangware, and Dagoretti are lower income areas close to these affluent suburbs. The city's colonial past
8460-478: Was built in three phases: Uhuru Highway to Muthaiga Roundabout; Muthaiga Roundabout to Kenyatta University and; Kenyatta University to Thika Town . On 31 May 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta inaugurated the Standard Gauge Railway which connects Nairobi to Mombasa. It was primarily built by a Chinese firm with about 90% of total funding from China and about 10% from the Kenyan government. A second phase
8554-557: Was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County . The town is known as "the white and blue city" in Kenya. It is the country's oldest ( c. 900 A.D.) and second-largest city after Nairobi, with a population of about 1,208,333 people according to the 2019 census. Mombasa's location on the Indian Ocean made it a historical trading centre, and it has been controlled by many countries because of its strategic location. Kenyan school history books place
8648-448: Was first and foremost commissioned to design the first town layout for the railway depot. It constituted two streets – Victoria Street and Station Street , ten avenues, staff quarters and an Indian commercial area. The railway arrived at Nairobi on 30 May 1899, and soon Nairobi replaced Machakos as the headquarters of the provincial administration for the Ukamba province. On the arrival of
8742-585: Was launched in July 2011 at a cost of $ 82.15 million by the Kenyan Government and was carried out by China Roads and Bridge Corporation . A new berth, Berth 19, with 6.1 ha (15 acres) of stacking yard, has provided additional annual capacity of 200,000 TEU . The project is to increase the port throughput by 33%, consolidating the leading status of Mombasa as well as Kenya in East Africa. This expansion came alongside plans to construct railways better linking
8836-454: Was sacked by the Portuguese. In 1502, the sultanate became independent from Kilwa Kisiwani and was renamed as Mvita (in Swahili ) or Manbasa ( Arabic ). The Portuguese had since had encounters with the city several times; first under Francisco de Almeida in 1505, later under Afonso de Albuquerque in 1522 to quell an attempted mutiny by the sultan's nephew in Pemba and Zanzibar, and finally
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