Embakasi

Embakasi is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi. It lies about 18 kilometres, or 11 miles, southeast of the central business district. Embakasi is part of Nairobi's Eastlands area and is situated to the southeast of Nairobi County. The area includes other estates such as Donholm, Pipeline, Tena, and Makadara, and it borders South C. Embakasi also contains a portion of Nairobi's Industrial Area and the Export Processing Zones.

One of the most important features of Embakasi is the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This airport was originally called Embakasi Airport when it opened in 1958. It has since grown to become a major gateway for travel in and out of Kenya.

Embakasi Sub-county

The Embakasi Sub-county is named after the neighborhood of Embakasi and is part of what used to be the Embakasi Constituency. It is one of the eleven sub-counties in Nairobi. The area covers 86.3 km² (33.3 sq mi). According to the 2019 census, Embakasi had a population of 988,808 people, which is more than 22% of Nairobi County's total population. With a population density of 11,460 people per square kilometer, Embakasi is the most populous sub-county in Nairobi City County.

Government and infrastructure

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has its main office on the grounds of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Embakasi. The Kenya Airports Authority also has its main office at the same airport.

Education

Kifaru Primary School is a basic school in the Njiru area, close to Umoja. Our Lady Of Nazareth Primary School is a Catholic school in Mkuru Kwa Njenga. There are other schools in the Embakasi area. Schools

Economy

Kenya Airways has its main office in Embakasi. African Express Airways also has its main office at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Embakasi. JetLink Express has its main office in the Freight Complex in Embakasi.

Transport

Embakasi is home to an Inland Container Depot, also called the dry port. It is where most of the Nairobi part of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway is located. The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway has a place for cargo in Embakasi.

In 2010, there was a plan to build a train line from Embakasi to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to help with too many cars on the nearby road.

By 2022, there was a train service that only went one way and didn't run very often from the Embakasi SGR station.

2011 petrol fire

In September 2011, a fire happened in Embakasi after fuel spilled from a tank at a depot. People tried to collect the fuel, and it caught fire after someone threw something into the sewer. Unfortunately, many people were hurt in this accident.

2024 gas explosion

On February 2, 2024, a big explosion happened in Embakasi when a truck carrying gas cylinders blew up. This caused a large fire near some buildings where people lived. Sadly, three people were killed and about 300 were hurt. The Kenyan government said the gas plant where the explosion happened was not allowed and had been turned down for permits before.