From Enkare Nairobi to a Global African Capital
Nairobi is one of the youngest major capital cities in the world, yet its history is unusually layered. Unlike cities that evolved gradually over centuries, Nairobi was created, imposed, expanded, and transformed within just over a century. This compressed timeline explains why Nairobi feels simultaneously modern, fragmented, dynamic, and unresolved.
This expert history draws directly from the Nairobi Information Guide produced by ActionAid and related historical context, tracing Nairobi’s origins, social structure, economic contrasts, and enduring urban challenges Nairobi-Information-Guide.
1. Before the City: Enkare Nairobi (Pre-1899)
Before Nairobi existed as a city, the land it occupies today was known by the Maasai as Enkare Nairobi, meaning place of cold or cool water Nairobi-Information-Guide.
This was:
- Open grassland and wetland
- Drained by rivers flowing from the Ngong Hills
- Used seasonally for grazing and movement
There was no permanent urban settlement, no stone architecture, and no centralized political authority here. This absence of entrenched urban structures made the area attractive to colonial planners—but also meant Nairobi began without indigenous urban institutions.
2. 1899–1905: The Railway Camp That Became a City
Nairobi was founded in 1899 as a railway depot during construction of the Uganda Railway, built by the British to link the coast at Mombasa with Lake Victoria Nairobi-Information-Guide.
Why This Location Was Chosen
The site was selected because it offered:
- Flat land suitable for rail yards
- Reliable water supply
- A cool climate at high altitude
Initially, Nairobi was intended to be temporary—a staging post and supply camp for railway construction. It housed:
- Around 36,000 Indian railway workers
- African laborers and porters
- British engineers and administrators
Despite floods, disease, and fires, the settlement persisted because the railway could not function without it.
By 1905, Nairobi replaced Mombasa as the capital of British East Africa Nairobi-Information-Guide.
3. 1905–1963: Colonial Capital and Segregated Growth
Once designated capital, Nairobi was deliberately planned—but not as a unified city.
Racially Structured Urban Planning
Colonial Nairobi developed through enforced segregation:
- Europeans occupied cooler, greener western areas
- Asians dominated trade and commerce zones
- Africans were restricted to labor settlements and informal housing
This structure shaped:
- Access to services
- Housing quality
- Infrastructure investment
- Long-term inequality
Many of today’s core institutions—government buildings, churches, hospitals, and rail infrastructure—date from this period.
The city center evolved into what is now the CBD, while African populations were pushed to peripheral settlements that later became large informal neighborhoods.
4. Independence and Rapid Urbanization (1963–1990s)
Kenya’s independence in 1963 marked a turning point in Nairobi’s identity.
Post-Independence Changes
- Nairobi became a national capital, not a colonial one
- Rural-to-urban migration increased dramatically
- African leadership expanded across institutions
- Public spaces and national symbols were established
However, the pace of migration far outstripped planning capacity. This led to:
- Explosive population growth
- Expansion of informal settlements
- Infrastructure strain
By the late 20th century, Nairobi had grown into one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest cities, with a population exceeding two million Nairobi-Information-Guide.
5. The Growth of Informal Settlements: Kariobangi as a Case Study
The Nairobi Information Guide devotes significant attention to Kariobangi, one of Nairobi’s major informal settlements, to illustrate the city’s deep contrasts Nairobi-Information-Guide.
Kariobangi’s Origins
- Settlement began in the 1920s
- Population growth accelerated in the 1970s
- Located about 8 km northeast of the city center
Living Conditions (Historical Snapshot)
According to the document:
- No sewage system
- Limited running water
- Few paved roads
- Overcrowded housing
- Average incomes around KSh 50 per day at the time
Despite this, Kariobangi was—and remains—economically active, with:
- Informal trading
- Artisans and workshops
- Markets integrated into the wider city economy
This dual reality—poverty alongside productivity—became a defining feature of Nairobi’s urban identity.
6. Nairobi as a Regional and International City
By the late 20th century, Nairobi had acquired roles far beyond Kenya:
- One of four UN-designated “World Cities” at the time
- Host of international conferences at the Kenyatta Conference Centre
- Headquarters for NGOs and international agencies
The city also developed:
- Universities and research institutions
- Cultural venues, theatres, and cinemas
- Major transport links by air, rail, and road Nairobi-Information-Guide
This global role intensified social contrasts but also anchored Nairobi’s importance on the world stage.
7. 2000s–Present: Vertical Growth and Globalization
In the 21st century, Nairobi entered a new phase marked by:
- High-rise development in business districts
- Expansion of finance, technology, and services
- Major infrastructure investments
- Deeper integration into global networks
Office blocks, hotels, and commercial towers expanded rapidly, while informal settlements continued to grow alongside them—a pattern rooted in Nairobi’s early planning history.
8. Why Nairobi’s History Still Shapes the City Today
Neighborhood Patterns
Colonial zoning decisions explain why some areas have:
- Better infrastructure
- More green space
- Lower density
Transport Routes
Modern highways and commuter corridors often follow:
- Railway alignments
- Early colonial roads
Inequality and Access
Historic exclusion from land ownership and services continues to influence:
- Housing patterns
- Service delivery
- Economic opportunity
“Old Nairobi” Cultural Rhythms
Old Nairobi refers not only to buildings, but to:
- Walkable city life
- Strong community institutions
- Public parks and civic spaces
- A closer relationship between city and nature
These rhythms persist beneath modern development and are central to Nairobi’s identity.
9. Why Nairobi Feels Young Yet Complex
Nairobi feels young because:
- It is barely 125 years old
- Much of its built environment is recent
It feels complex because:
- Growth was rapid and uneven
- Planning systems overlapped and conflicted
- Migration constantly reshaped the city
- Global and local forces collided
Few cities have changed so much, so fast.
10. What “Old Nairobi” Means Today
Today, “Old Nairobi” represents:
- Memory of early urban life
- Values of walkability and community
- Balance between built space and nature
It is not nostalgia—it is a reference point for imagining a more humane future city.
Conclusion: Nairobi as a City Still in the Making
Nairobi was born as a railway camp, shaped by colonial power, transformed by independence, and propelled by globalization. Its history explains its contradictions: prosperity and poverty, order and informality, ambition and strain.
To understand Nairobi today—its neighborhoods, economy, transport, inequality, and creativity—you must understand how and why it was built so quickly.
This history remains visible in streets, settlements, institutions, and daily life—and continues to shape what Nairobi is becoming.