Nairobi in the background. Courtesy of Rod Waddington
Let’s head to our first African city in Streets & Squares: Nairobi, the capital and the largest city of Kenya. As always in Streets & Squares, clicking on the address links leads you to Google Maps, and clicking on the names to the person’s Wikipedia page. However, as there are not that many eponymous streets in Nairobi, we will allow here some cultural names as well. Thus you will learn some Swahili along the way!
The name Nairobi comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare (river) Nairobi (cool), a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city - depicted in the flag of the city. Mount Kenya (map) is by the way the source of the name of the Republic of Kenya, former Kenya Colony (1920-1963) and former British East Africa (1895-1920). Now, let’s see some history through the streets, squares and parks of Nairobi!
HAILE SELASSIE AVENUE - Haile Selassie (1892-1975) Ethiopian regent (1916-1930) and emperor (1930-1974). Defining figure in modern Ethiopian history, born in Ejersa Goro, Imperial Ethiopia.
HARAMBEE AVENUE - Harambee is Swahili for All pull together, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms.
JEEWANJEE GARDENS - Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee (1856-1936) merchant, politician and philanthropist. Among the first Indian settlers in Kenya, he became an influential leader of Kenya’s Indian community. Born in Karachi, British India.
JOHN MICHUKI MEMORIAL PARK - John Michuki (1932-2012) politician and businessman born in Muguru Village, Murang’a, Kenya Colony.
KENYATTA AVENUE - Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978) was the anti-colonial activist and politician who became the first president of Kenya. He was born in Gatundu, British East Africa. StreetView
KIMATHI STREET - Dedan Kimathi (1920-1957) was a revolutionary leader in the struggle against the British colonial regime. Born in Nyeri District, Kenya Colony. StreetView
MOI AVENUE - Daniel arap Moi (1924-) politician who served as the 2nd president of Kenya. Born in Sacho, Baringo, Kenya Colony. StreetView
MUINDI MBINGU STREET - Muindi Mbingu (1893-1953) was a politician who became the face of Kamba freedom struggle against the British colonialists in Kenya.
TOM MBOYA STREET - Tom Mboya (1930-1969) was a trade unionist, independence activist and Pan Africanist born in Kilima Mbogo, Kenya Colony. StreetView
UHURU PARK - Uhuru is Swahili for Freedom. The park was opened to the general public by Jomo Kenyatta in 1969, some five years after the independence. StreetView
A to Z FROM NAIROBI
i.e. a list of people born in Nairobi. Just another fun way to know something more about the city. We pick a couple of people for each alphabet, if possible. The numbers you see at the end of each line indicate the year of birth. This list is updated from time to time. And last but not least: the flag of Nairobi!
C - Jonathan Cavendish* British film producer (1959) & Gurinder Chadha* British film director (1960)
D - Richard Dawkins* British ethologist/evolutionary biologist/author (1941)
G - Khalid Geire* Kenyan-Swedish actor/comedian (1969) & Edi Gathegi* Kenyan-American actor (1979)
H - Francesca Hayward* British dancer/actress (1992)
K - Uhuru Kenyatta* businessman/politician/P/son of Jomo Kenyatta (1961)
L - Richard Leakey* palaeoanthropologist/ conservationist /politician (1944)
M - Stella Mwangi* Kenyan Norwegian singer/songwriter/ rapper (1986)
W - Roger Whittaker* British singer-songwriter/musician (1936)
Updated 31.8.2022