Timeline of Nairobi

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and has grown into a very important place for the country.

This timeline shows the many important moments and changes that have shaped Nairobi over time. It helps us understand how the city developed from its early days into the busy, modern city it is today.

Because history is always changing as we learn more, this list might not have every single detail. Anyone can help make it better by adding missing information and checking that it comes from trustworthy sources.

Prior to 20th century

In 1899, the Uganda Railway started running between Mombasa and Nairobi. The British also built a depot there.

20th century

Nairobi grew quickly during the 1900s. In 1900, it became a township. Important buildings like the Norfolk Hotel and Government House were built, and groups such as the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society started.

By the mid-1900s, Nairobi became a city. Schools, parks, and cultural centers opened. In 1963, Nairobi became the capital of Kenya. Universities and international offices, like the United Nations Office at Nairobi, were established. The city kept growing, with new neighborhoods, shops, and important buildings appearing throughout the years.

21st century

2000s

In 2001, the I&M Bank Tower was built, and the Nairobi Women's Hospital was founded. There was also unrest in Kibera. In 2002, the Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology was established, and the World Urban Forum was held. By 2003, the Nairobi Marathon began, and Dorman's Coffee opened. The literary journal Kwani? also started that year, and the GoDown Arts Centre was founded. In 2004, Dick Wathika became mayor. In 2005, there was a political protest in July, and the city's population reached about 2.8 million. In 2006, Kenya's first online Sheng Dictionary went live at www.sheng.co.ke. In 2007, new administrative districts were created for Nairobi Province, and there was unrest after elections in December. In 2008, Google opened an office, and the Nairobi National Museum building was expanded. By 2009, the population grew to about 3.1 million.

2010s

In 2010, Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa resigned, and the city hosted the African Championships in Athletics. The IHub opened in June, but there was a blast during a protest in Uhuru Park. The population was estimated at about 3.1 million. In 2011, there was a petrol pipeline explosion in the Sinai slum, and the Hay Festival of literature was held. George Aladwa became mayor. In 2012, the Nairobi-Syokimau railway started operating, and IMAX Nairobi cinema opened. A sister city relationship was established with Raleigh, US. In 2013, Nairobi became an administrative division. Elections for governor and National Assembly were held in March, and there was a fire at Nairobi airport in August. Sadly, there were also attacks at the Westgate shopping mall in September and on a bus in Eastleigh in December. In 2014, Caramel restaurant opened. In 2015, US president Obama visited the city in July. In 2017, the Two Rivers Shopping Complex opened, and the first phase of the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway was inaugurated. In 2018, part of the African Nations Championship football contest was held in Nairobi.