Timeline of Nairobi

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Nairobi, Kenya.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Prior to 20th century

• 1899 - Uganda Railway (Mombasa-Nairobi) begins operating; depot built by British.

20th century

1900s

• 1901 - Native Civil hospital opens.
• 1904 - Norfolk Hotel opens.
• 1905
  • British East Africa Protectorate capital moves to Nairobi from Mombasa.
  • Nairobi Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman Religious and Charitable Funds established.
• 1906
  • Jamia Mosque built.
  • Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded.
• 1907 - British Government House built.
• 1909 - East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society established.

1910s-1920s

• 1910
  • East African Standard newspaper headquartered in Nairobi.
  • Museum of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society established.
• 1912 - Theatre Royal opens.
• 1913 - Muthaiga Country Club founded.
• 1914 - Shri Vankaner Vidya Prasarak Mandal established.
• 1917
  • Anjuman Islamia established.
  • East Africa Women's League established.
  • Indian Christian Union formed.
• 1918 - Punjebhai Club formed.
• 1919 - Nairobi Political Association formed.
• 1920
  • Social Service Volunteer Corps established.
  • Majlis-i-Ahl-i-Kashmeer established.

1930s-1940s

• 1930 - Coryndon Museum opens.
• 1931 - McMillan lending library (for white settlers) opens.
• 1934 - Sir Ali Muslim Club (cricket) founded.
• 1935 - Nairobi becomes a municipality.
• 1944 - Kenya Conservatoire of Music.
• 1946 - Nairobi National Park established.
• 1947 - Kenya National Archives headquartered in city.
• 1948 - East African Literature Bureau founded.
• 1949 - American Center Library established.

1950s

• 1950 - Nairobi became a city
• 1952
  • City Council formed.
  • Princess Elizabeth Hospital opens.
• 1953 - Nairobi Dam constructed.
• 1954
  • Ngong Racecourse opens.
  • European Hospital opens.
• 1955 - Israel Somen elected mayor.
• 1956
  • Royal Technical College established.
  • East African Library Association headquartered in city.
• 1958 - Nairobi Embakasi Airport and Embassy Cinema open.

1960s

• 1961 - Kenya Polytechnic established.
• 1963
  • City becomes capital of Republic of Kenya.
  • Kenya School of Law established.
• 1964 - Abaluhya United Football Club founded.
• 1966 - United Nations Office at Nairobi established.
• 1967
  • National Library Service of Kenya headquartered in city.
  • Kenya Open golf tournament begins.
• 1968
  • Gor Mahia Football Club founded.
  • Swedish school founded.
• 1969
  • July: Political leader Tom Mboya assassinated.
  • Hilton Nairobi built.

1970s

• 1970
  • University of Nairobi and Nairobi Japanese School established.
  • Margaret Kenyatta becomes mayor.
  • Tusker Football Club founded.
• 1971 - Nairobi Railway Museum opens.
• 1973
  • Kenyatta International Conference Centre and National Social Security Fund building constructed.
  • City administrators develop municipal "master plan."
• 1975
  • Uchumi Supermarkets founded.
  • City hosts World Council of Churches conference.
• 1978 - Mazingira Institute founded.

1980s

• 1980 - Nairobi Records Centre of the Kenya National Archives established.
• 1981
  • City hall building expanded.
  • ICEA Building and Cooperative Bank House built.
• 1983
  • Sarit Centre shopping mall opens.
  • Nyayo National Stadium and Nyayo House built.
• 1985 - Kenyatta University established.
• 1987
  • Moi International Sports Centre built.
  • City hosts All-Africa Games.
• 1989 - Kenya College of Accountancy founded.

1990s

• 1990
  • Kenya Television Network founded.
  • Lonrho House built.
  • Population: 1,380,000 (urban agglomeration).
• 1992 - Anniversary Towers built.
• 1994 - Mathare United Football Club founded.
• 1995 - The Village Market shopping center opens.
• 1998 - U.S. embassy bombed.
• 1997 - Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis headquartered in city.
• 1999
  • Rahimtulla Tower built.
  • Nairobi Java House opens.

21st century

2000s

• 2000
  • New Central Bank Tower built.
  • Population: 2,230,000 (urban agglomeration).
• 2001
  • I&M Bank Tower built.
  • Nairobi Women's Hospital founded.
  • Coalition for Peace in Africa headquartered in Nairobi.
  • Unrest in Kibera.
• 2002
  • Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology established.
  • World Urban Forum held.
• 2003
  • Nairobi Marathon begins.
  • Dorman's Coffee opens.
  • Kwani? literary journal begins publication.
  • GoDown Arts Centre founded.
• 2004 - Dick Wathika elected mayor.
• 2005
  • July: Political protest.
  • Population: 2,814,000 (urban agglomeration).
• 2006 - www.sheng.co.ke Kenya's first online Sheng Dictionary goes live after major overhaul.
• 2007
  • Nairobi Province administrative districts created.
  • December - Post-election unrest.
• 2008
  • Google office in business.
  • Nairobi National Museum building expanded.
• 2009 - Population: 3,138,369.

2010s

• 2010
  • Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa resigns.
  • Nairobi County administrative division created.
  • City hosts African Championships in Athletics.
  • IHub opens.
  • June: Blast occurs during protest in Uhuru Park.
• 2011
  • Petrol pipeline explosion, Sinai slum.
  • Hay Festival of literature held.
  • George Aladwa elected mayor.
• 2012
  • Nairobi-Syokimau railway begins operating.
  • IMAX Nairobi (cinema) opens.
  • Sister city relationship established with Raleigh, USA.
• 2013
  • 4 March: Election held for governor and National Assembly.
  • 7 August: Nairobi airport fire.
  • September: 2013 Women's African Volleyball Championship held.
  • 21–24 September: Westgate shopping mall attack.
  • 14 December: Bus attack in Eastleigh.
• 2014 - Caramel restaurant in business.
• 2015 - July: US president Obama visits city.

See also

• History of Nairobi
• List of mayors of Nairobi

External links

• Europeana. Items related to Nairobi, various dates.
• Digital Public Library of America. Items related to Nairobi, various dates
• U.S. Library of Congress. Photos of Nairobi, various dates.