My Nairobi!!!!

The Kenyan commercial and political capital Nairobi is one of Africa’s most famous cities and for good reasons, or at least most of them. It is the thirteenth largest city in Africa based on population and the fourth largest based on infrastructure and development. Nairobi goes on record as being one of the continent’s most beautiful cities; in as far as the natural habitat preservation and green space goes. It is the only city of its magnitude in the world bordered by a national park, the Nairobi national park, which is a sight to behold, seeing as it is home to the big five and very many other species of animals and birds.

Nairobi city skyline as viewed from Nairobi National park

The upgrading of the road network in the city, dabbed the Nairobi – Thika highway road expansion will see Nairobi leave the records of shame terming it one of the world’s worst cities to drive in, and instead earn it some serious bragging rights as the first city in East and Central Africa to have a one of its kind top notch superhighway and road network.

The modern architecture that is used on most of the city’s sky crappers forming a beautiful skyline has led to its being christened “The London of Africa”. Simply put, Nairobi is arguably a major center of modernity in Africa, having very modern shopping malls, eateries, estates and apartments and being a major ICT hub in Africa.

It is however not all bread and better living in Nairobi, as it is one of Africa’s most expensive cities , thanks to the high cost of living. There is also the issue of the gap between the rich and the poor in the city, which simply put, is too wide. The traffic situation in the city and its environs is currently very bad, as most of the city roads are heavily congested with traffic especially during the rush hours, which is in the early mornings and in the evenings. Thankfully and much to the relief of the city residents, the government is currently engaged in running a project that seeks to expand the road network, and it is expected that the new roads will reduce traffic significantly.

The sprawling slums where Nairobi’s urban poor live, with most of the households surviving on less than a dollar a day, are for lack of a better word, a disturbing site. It’s frightening how so much contrast can exist within such close proximity with the haves having too much, while the have-nots have nothing at all, painting a clear picture of the wide gap that exists between the rich and the poor in the city.

 ‘Musings of a Nairobian’ is a blog revolving around the various social, political, cultural and economic issues that affect humanity in day to day living. The blogger is a Kenyan citizen watching the world from within the city of Nairobi, hence the blog title, and boldly expressing himself to paint a clear picture of the world as he sees it!! …….