For lovers of history, Kenya has so much history to enjoy and delve into for citizens and non-citizens alike. While visiting Nairobi, one may have the pleasure of appreciating both pre-colonial and colonial markers of history throughout the city. Nairobi is a fast-paced city and city dwellers move past these sites and monuments throughout their day sometimes without giving them a fleeting thought. Yet the city dwellers still gather at some of these places during public holidays to celebrate Kenya’s independence in acts of patriotism.
The County Council of Nairobi has done a splendid job in preserving these markers of history for generations to come. Whether it is the successful immortalization of Kenya’s past and present heroes or learning about Kenya’s rich cultural history in museums, one cannot fail to marvel at the displays of Kenya’s rich history in the streets of Nairobi.
1.Bomas of Kenya.
Boma is a Swahili word for house or home and Bomas of Kenya is, therefore, a tourist village in Langata, Nairobi that displays traditional villages belonging to the several Kenyan tribes. Take a cultural tour learning about how different ethnic communities constructed their houses and lived. Bomas of Kenya is home to one of the largest auditoriums in Africa and is located approximately 10km from the Central Business District.
Experience the rich diversity of Kenyan traditional music and dance in daily cultural performances while at Bomas of Kenya. The repertoire consists of over 50 dances from different ethnic communities. With live percussion, string and wind instruments, and diverse, authentic, and energetic dancing, Bomas Harambee Dancers will take you on a journey through Kenya’s past and present. Click here for more information.
2.Dedan Kimathi Statue
Dedan Kimathi Wachiuri was a leader of the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonial government in Kenya in the 1950s. However, Kimathi was captured and hanged by the colonial government at the height of Kenya’s freedom struggle, and his grave at the Kamiti Prison has never been identified.
Fifty years down the line, and he still stands defiant with a rifle in the right hand and a dagger in the left. He is clothed in the same military uniform as the British soldiers that he fought, a tribute to the time he served in the imperialist army. His hair twisted in dreadlocks crown his head with rebellion. The polished concrete statue is overcome with rough tones and texture with grit as its medium.
The sculpture stands on a pedestal placed in the middle of the junction of Kimathi Street and Mama Ngina Street, isolating it amidst the city traffic.
3.Kenya National Archives
The National Archives are kept in a large building along the prestigious Moi Avenue in Nairobi. Although its main task is to preserve all public archives and records, it is also the venue for many arts and photographic exhibitions in the city center. All exhibitions that are held there are open to the public and attract a nominal entry fee. Visitors to Nairobi will find the permanent exhibition of photographs of different tribes from around Kenya fascinating and well worth a look. There is also an extensive range of paintings from all over the African continent on display. Another exhibition within the archives showcases tribal weaponry, jewelry, masks, and other artifacts, providing insight into life within the Kenyan interior.
The struggle for Kenyan independence from Britain is also well documented through photographic and archival documentation on display. The exhibits provide a well-rounded introduction to the people, culture, and history of Kenya from antiquity through colonialism, the fight for independence to contemporary times. Exhibitions are held on the ground floor of the archives and the archival reading room is on the second floor. It is housed the historic Bank of India building.
4. Nairobi Railway Museum
Today, in the center of Kenya’s capital city, the Nairobi Railway Museum is dedicated to the history of the country’s rail network. There you’ll find an intriguing jumble of artifacts plus a variety of exhibits and ephemera that illustrate the construction and running of the railway. There are models of railway engines that operated on the line, photographs of the railway throughout its history, and a varied selection of other oddities, including an interesting motorized railway bicycle.
The railway played an important role in establishing the city of Nairobi, and the Nairobi Railway Museum, located at the northwest end of Nairobi Station, gives you insight into the historical and commercial significance of rail travel in Kenya.
5.Uhuru Gardens Memorial Park
Located along Langata road, 15 minutes drive from the city center, is Uhuru Gardens, Kenya’s largest Memorial Park. Uhuru is a Swahili word meaning freedom. Of importance to note is that it is Kenya’s birthplace. This is where the first Kenyan flag was first raised and thus marking the very first year of independence on the 12th December 1963. Within the garden are two monuments commemorating Kenya’s independence, and a Mugumo (fig) tree.
In addition to the historical significance, Uhuru Gardens continues to attract various events as a recreational park. It is popular as a rest area for families and friends, a must-visit for schools, and in recent times has gained popularity as an events venue for corporate launches, concerts, weddings, film locations just to name a few.
6.Karen Blixen Museum
Karen Blixen Museum was once the centerpiece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Located 10km from the city center, the Museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya. The farmhouse gained international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’ an Oscar-winning film based on Karen’s autobiography by the same title.
The Museum is open to the public every day (9.30 am to 6 pm) including weekends and public holidays. Visitors are encouraged to be at the Museum by 5.30. Guided tours are offered continuously. A museum shop offers handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books, and other Kenyan souvenirs. The grounds, which are vast and have lush green grass, can be rented for wedding receptions and corporate functions.
7.Nyayo National Stadium
Nyayo National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located at the square of Mombasa Road, Langata Road, and the Aerodrome Road. It is approximately two kilometers from the City Center, directly opposite Nairobi Mega Mall, formerly known as Nakumatt Mega. The stadium is a focal point in history since it has been the venue for multiple National Holiday celebrations and athletic events.
Nyayo National Stadium was also the venue of choice when Kenya hosted the 4th All Africa Games in 1987 and giving it international status. Today, the stadium has undergone many renovations to increase capacity and standard of quality.
8.War Memorial Statue
The War Memorial Statue in Nairobi is an homage to the native Africans who fought alongside the British soldiers during World War I and stands in the city center on Kenyatta Avenue. Sculpted in 1924, it was erected on-site in 1928, a constant reminder of the casualties of war. The monument is made up of three statues: African soldiers who aren’t identified by name, but clearly members of the King’s African Rifles and Carrier Corps. It is an interesting monument to visit since the statue is one of the oldest in the city and tells a story of how much the First World War impacted the lives of Africans.
9.Nairobi National Museum
Nairobi National Museum aims to interpret Kenya’s rich heritage and offers a one-stop for visitors to sample the country’s rich heritage both for education and leisure. In addition to a tour of the museum, visitors are treated to a variety of shopping and dining facilities, as well as botanical gardens that offer a serene environment.
The museum is open on all 356 days throughout the year from 0830hrs -17300hrs. Nairobi National Museum is located at the Museum Hill, approximately 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi city center accessible both by public and private means. Built-in 1929, this is the flagship museum for the National Museums of Kenya, housing celebrated collections of Kenya’s History, Nature, Culture, and Contemporary Art. The artworks and materials used in the fabrication of outdoor sculptures, the landscaping, and the botanic gardens, link to the four pillars of Kenya’s national heritage i.e. nature, culture, history, and contemporary art. In addition to offering visitors Kenya’s rich heritage, the museum is also well known as a unique events venue, for the appreciation of Kenya’s heritage amidst workshops, cocktails, conferences, and other functions. Click here for more information.
10.Nairobi Arboretum
Nairobi Arboretum is a 30.4 hectares of wooded landscape, an oasis close to the heart of the city situated in the Kilimani area, about 3 km from the city center and adjacent to the State House. It is bounded by the Kirichwa Kubwa River, Arboretum Drive, and Kenya Girl Guide Headquarters. The Nairobi Arboretum is one of Nairobi’s few remaining green spaces, It has shaded walkways, picnic lawns, and jogging trails.
The Nairobi Arboretum came to be during a trial phase to grow indigenous trees during the railway construction to meet the demand to run steam engines following the shift from using diesel oil to firewood. Nairobi Arboretum was then neglected during the period after Kenya regained her independence. It was not until 1993 that a group of citizens called ‘FONA’ which stands for Friends of Nairobi Arboretum sought to restore the gardens by gaining local and international funding to ensure it remains the beautiful green space it is today.
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I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
