In 1899, the Uganda Railway selected a site on a swampy Maasai watering hole called "Enkare Nairobi" (meaning "cold water" in Maasai language) as the location for a railway depot and supply depot for the extension of the rail line westward. The site was chosen for its elevation (1,795 meters), reliable water supply, and central position on the rail route between the coast and Lake Victoria.
The Early Colonial Town
The first structures were simple wooden buildings and colonial administrative offices. By 1900, Nairobi had become the main administrative center for the East Africa Protectorate, replacing Mombasa. The railway brought commercial activity, attracting Indian traders, Asian laborers, and European settlers seeking business opportunities in the interior.
The early town grew haphazardly along the railway line, with minimal planning. Within a decade, it had developed into a proper town with hotels, bars, shops, and residential areas. The construction of the town was built on the labor of Indian indentured workers brought in to build the railway itself.
By 1905, Nairobi was incorporated as a municipal council with European colonists dominating governance. The town's rapid growth created ethnic and spatial tensions that would define its geography for the next century.
See Also
Nairobi Timeline Nairobi Ethnic Mix Nairobi Economy Nairobi National Park Kikuyu Nairobi Colonial City