Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and still the largest city. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to “the place of cool waters”.
Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of about 3 million. According to the 2009 Census. Nairobi is currently the 12th largest city in Africa, including the population of its suburbs.
Nairobi hosts several United Nations agencies like the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN HABITAT). Other agencies such as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)and United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) have offices in Nairobi.
Nairobi city also hosts internationalbanks and financial institutions,multi-national corporations and international research institutions.
Nairobi is also a major tourist destination because of its favourable climate,national parks and a golfcourse in
the city centre.
Nairobi has played a significant role in peace in the region, hosting peace talks for Somalia and Sudan.
Kenya is a member of`Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and lntergovrernmental Authority on Drought and Develop1nent (ICAD) and has a lot of influence on inter-regional trade due to its superior infrastructure at Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA).
Nairobi also serves the region through a well-established telecommunication network, the best in East and Central Africa. The region is also a hub for the northern corridor transport network and the trans African highway from Cape Town to Cairo. It is the seat of Government, the biggest commercial, financial and Industrial ccntrc of the country, contributing slightly more than 50per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and accounts for the largest proportion of wage employment at 44.3 per cent.
Nairobi accounts for 20.1 per cent of the national urban population and 5.2 of Kenya’s poulation.