Nairobi

American  

[nahy-roh-bee] / naɪˈroʊ bi /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of Kenya, in the SW part.

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Nairobi British  

/ naɪˈrəʊbɪ /

noun

1. the capital of Kenya, in the southwest, at an altitude of 1650 m (5500 ft): founded in 1899; became capital in 1905; commercial and industrial centre; the Nairobi National Park (a game reserve) is nearby. Pop: 2 818 000 (2005 est)

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Nairobi Cultural  

1. Capital of Kenya and largest city in the country, located in southern Kenya.

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Discover More

Nairobi is a center for tourist safaris.

It was the capital of British East Africa — Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, and Zanzibar (see Tanzania) — from 1905 until the colonies became independent in the early 1960s.

Example Sentences

In February last year, Antoine Kassis checked into the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, a Victorian-style resort an hour north of Nairobi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Kelvin Karume, 22, who is currently unemployed and says he is trying to build an online presence as a content creator in Nairobi, says he found the videos on a Russian YouTube channel.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The former minister, who served in several roles including foreign minister, has been embroiled in a long-running legal battle contesting the auction and takeover of his properties in Nairobi over an unsettled bank loan.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

The March rains have repeatedly turned Nairobi streets to raging rivers, flooding thousands of homes and businesses.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Nairobi was overwhelming to me, bigger than any place I had ever seen.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau