Nairobi is the Capital City of Kenya, and the principle economic, administrative and cultural centre. With a current population of about 3 million people, Nairobi started of as a camp and depot for the railway construction workers in the late1890’s and was simply called “Mile 327”. The name Nairobi originated from the Maasai name Ewaso Nai’beri meaning the place of cold water.
The Climate
Nairobi has a tropical and friendly climate. The temperatures are usually at a peak at 25 degrees centigrade. The summer season is from December to March with sunny and warm temperatures. Winter season is in June/July with very chilly evenings. During the winter the temperature drops to 10 degrees centigrade. There are two rainy season in a year but with moderate rainfall. The wettest part of the year is in April/ May and in November / December.
Economic Activities
Food and beverage processing, export processing zones, construction materials, tourism, finance, information and communication technology, and glass manufacturing. The industrial sector has grown extensively especially the informal manufacturing sub-sector commonly known as the “Jua –Kali”, in response to government incentives for the sector. These are small manufacturing ventures that use very little capital in their production, process and manufacturing of a wide range of products.
Tourism is a big contributor towards the country’s foreign exchange. The expansion in this sector not only reflects the diverse tourist attractions but also the impact of appropriate exchange rate policy that has made the country more competitive compared to other tourist destinations.
Accommodation
Nairobi’s accommodation suites every pocket, most of these hotels offer the usual 4 or 5 star amenities such as air conditioned rooms with satellite TV. Hotels also offer a choice of bars and restaurants in addition of the state of the art gyms, steam and sauna facilities. There are also a wide variety of private houses and apartments within the city