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Nairobi

Nairobi
City
Clockwise from top: Central business district, Nairobi National Park, Parliament of Kenya, Nairobi City Hall and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
Clockwise from top: Central business district, Nairobi National Park, Parliament of Kenya, Nairobi City Hall and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
Flag of Nairobi
Flag
Coat of arms of Nairobi
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "Green City in the Sun", "Nai", "Silicon Savannah"
Nairobi is located in Kenya
Nairobi
Nairobi
Location of Nairobi
Coordinates: 1°17′S 36°49′E / 1.283°S 36.817°E / -1.283; 36.817Coordinates: 1°17′S 36°49′E / 1.283°S 36.817°E / -1.283; 36.817
Country  Kenya
County Nairobi County
Founded 1899
Constituencies
Government
 • Body Nairobi City County
 • Legislature County Assembly
 • Governor Evans Kidero
 • Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke
Area
 • City 696 km2 (269 sq mi)
Elevation 1,661 m (5,450 ft)
Population (2009)
 • City 3,138,369
 • Density 4,850/km2 (12,600/sq mi)
 • Metro 6,547,547
Demonym(s) Nairobian
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
Area code(s) 020
Website nairobi.go.ke

Nairobi (/nˈrbi/; locally [naɪˈroːbi]) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. It is famous for having the Nairobi National Park, the world's only game reserve found within a major city. The city and its surrounding area also form Nairobi County, whose current governor is Evans Kidero and Deputy Governor is Jonathan Mueke.

The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to "cool water". The phrase is also the Maasai name of the Nairobi river, which in turn lent its name to the city. However, it is popularly known as the Green City in the Sun, and is surrounded by several expanding villa suburbs.

Nairobi was founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. The town quickly grew to replace Machakos as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya. During Kenya's colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony's coffee, tea and sisal industry. The city lies on the River Athi in the southern part of the country, and has an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft) above sea level.

With a population of 3.36 million in 2011, Nairobi is the second-largest city by population in the African Great Lakes region after Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. According to the 2009 census, in the administrative area of Nairobi, 3,138,295 inhabitants lived within 696 km2 (269 sq mi). Nairobi is the 14th-largest city in Africa, including the population of its suburbs.


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