A city walk

We had booked a city walking tour for this morning. We had breakfast and then met with Susan, our guide. We spent the next three hours exploring downtown Nairobi and learning about the history of the city.

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of around five million. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River that flows through the city. Nairobi was founded in 1899 by colonial authorities in British East Africa as a rail depot on the Uganda - Kenya Railway. 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.

Our first stop was at Jeevangee Gardens, named after A.M. Jeevangee, an Indian-born entrepreneur in Kenya. He constructed the gardens in 1906 and gifted them to the people of Nairobi as a place to rest. Today, they are undergoing renovation work.

We then walked around the corner to the City Market, a busy complex of stalls selling everything from local crafts to flowers, fresh meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables. It was really interesting to see all the activity. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside or of the stalls outside, but we could photograph the exterior of the building and the colourful murals on the walls. The building itself is based on Lawrence Hall in London. It was built in 1932, replacing an earlier building funded by Jeevangee in 1904. This original market was demolished in 1908 when an outbreak of plague was blamed on unhygienic conditions there. The new building is in the Art Deco style with vaulted ceilings and open windows facing north and south to let in natural light and avoid overheating. Courtyards surrounding the main hall mean that cool air circulates in the building, ensuring that the City Market remains functional without the use of excess electricity.Read more