Nairobi, is a Maasai term meaning 'the place of sweet waters'. This is where the Maasai used to bring their livestock to graze and drink water in the olden days. Today over 1.5 million people live and work in the city. A large part of this population has come here from the rural areas to work and after retirement they go back to their native homes in the country.

Nairobi is a city, financial capital, administrative capital, province and the capital of Kenya. The National Assembly, the Law Courts, the Office of the President and the City Hall are to be found in the city centre. Many countries have diplomatic missions, embassies or trade offices in Nairobi.

Nairobi is an international business and tourist centre, and people of many cultures live and work there. The main languages spoken here are Swahili and English which are the two national languages. There are many churches, mosques and temples where people of different faiths go to worship. Restaurants serve almost every kind of food, from local dishes to the most exotic. Curries from India and Pakistan are very popular as is Chinese, Arabian and European cuisine.

City shops include supermarkets, small shops and market stalls spread throughout the city. Some modern shopping malls have been built over the last few years but despite the popularity of these malls, small businesses still thrive in the city centre and in the suburbs.

In and out of the city, residential areas sprawl for many kilometres on all sides of Nairobi. Houses range from handsome mansions set in large gardens to crowded rows of maisonettes, four-storey blocks of flats, and shacks made of boxes and plastic sheets.

The road from the airport passes between Nairobi National Park and the industrial area. The park is fenced on the city side, but wild animals wander freely in and out of the other side by crossing the River Athi. Monkeys and baboons are not an uncommon site on this road.