Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to “the place of cool waters”. However, it is popularly known as the “Green City in the Sun” and is surrounded by several expanding villa suburbs. The people of Nairobi are popularly nicknamed ‘Nairobians’.

Founded in 1899 as a simple rail depot on the railway linking Mombasa to Uganda, the town quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa in 1907 and eventually the capital of a free Kenyan republic in 1963. During Kenya’s colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony’s coffee, tea and sisal industry. Nairobi is also the capital of the Nairobi Province and of the Nairobi District. The city lies on the Nairobi River, in the south of the nation, and has an elevation of 1795 m above sea-level.

Nairobi is the most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of about 3 million. According to the 1999 Census, in the administrative area of Nairobi, 2,143,254 inhabitants lived within 696 km2 (269 sq mi). Nairobi is currently the 13th largest city in Africa, based on population and fourth largest in infrastructure development and its size.

Airports in Kenya

Jomo Kenyatta International airport

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya’s largest aviation facility, and the busiest airport in Eastern Africa. It is the 6th busiest airport in Africa. The airport is named after the first Kenyan prime minister and president Jomo Kenyatta.

Kenyatta airport is located in Embakasi, a suburb to the south-east of Nairobi. The airport is situated 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Nairobi’s Central Business District, and at the edge of the city’s built up area. The Mombasa Highway

runs adjacent to the airport, and is the main route of access between Nairobi and the airport.
The airport is the main hub of Kenya Airways and Fly540. Jomo Kenyatta airport is served by Runway 06/24. Runway 06 is ILS-equipped, and is used for take-offs and landings. The airport is served by one terminal building constructed in the 1970s. The former “Embakasi” terminal, now used for cargo and for a Kenya Air Force training facility, was constructed before the 1960s.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s terminal has three units that cater for both arrivals and departures. Units 1 and 2 are mainly used for international flights whereas unit 3 is mainly used for domestic flights.

Departing passengers check-in through units 1 and 2 depending on their destinations. Both units have airline check-in counters that operate on a Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) system, and immigration desks at the ground floor where passengers are cleared before they proceed to the departure lounge in the first floor via escalators or lifts. There are eight departure gates used to board aircraft via boarding bridges. Arriving international passengers enter via the same gates into a concourse which leads to immigration counters at the first floor before coming to the baggage hall situated in the ground floor. The baggage hall is well served with baggage conveyor belts.

Banking facilities, taxis, car hire, tour operators and hotel booking offices are conveniently situated at the arrival areas. A scheduled bus service to and from the town center is available at unit 1 and 2 bus stops