Kenya

Cities, towns, and villages

• Nairobi — is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft). The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city.
  Nairobi is home of the Kenyan Parliament Buildings and hosts thousands of Kenyan businesses and key international companies and organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is one of the largest stock exchanges in Africa and the second-oldest exchange on the continent. It is Africa's fourth-largest stock exchange in terms of trading volume, capable of making 10 million trades a day. It also contains the Nairobi National Park. Nairobi joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2010.
  Nairobi was founded in 1899 by colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda - Kenya Railway. It was favoured by the authorities as an ideal resting place due to its high elevation, temperate climate, and adequate water supply. The town quickly grew to replace Mombasa as the capital of Kenya in 1907.
• Garissa (Somali: Gaarrisa Arabic: قارسا) — is the capital of Garissa County, Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province, it is a predominantly Muslim town in the east close to Somalia.
• Kabarnet — is a town in the Northern Rift Valley region of Kenya, close to Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria.
• Mombasa — historic port on the Indian Ocean seafront and probably Africa's longest continuously settled town.
  Mombasa is Kenya's main tourist destination. It is located on the Eastern coastline of Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean which has made it a popular destination for its beaches. Mombasa offers diverse marine life, world-class hotels and a friendly atmosphere. There is a tropical climate all year; it is a great destination filled with activities for all ages.
  Mombasa is a Swahili founded and ruled city. It was founded between the 1st and 5th century. At certain times it was occupied by the Portuguese, Arabs and British and originated back in the 16th century. Mombasa's culture today still exhibits that of its past. Historical ruins, an historic Portugese fort, and the Old Town are attractions influenced by Mombasa's trade culture, with many examples of Portuguese and Islamic architecture.
• Kisumu —  is a port city in western Kenya; located on a bay on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria at an altitude of 1,131 m (3,711 ft). It is the headquarters of Kisumu County and after Kampala, the second largest city in the Lake Victoria basin.
  The city was founded by the British as "Port Florence" in 1901 as a stop on the railway between Mombasa and Uganda. A year later, the city was renamed Kisumu, from a Luo word meaning "market, trading place".
  In 2006, Kisumu was designated one of Africa's 11 'Millenium Cities' by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
• Lamu — is a town in Coastal Kenya. Its old town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
  This is the main town on Lamu Island which is in turn part of the Lamu Archipelago.
  Lamu is vastly different from most cities in Kenya, most particularly due to the almost complete lack of motor vehicles and corresponding traffic. Culturally Lamu also differs from interior of the country as it has retained its historic character as the oldest continually inhabited town in the country and one of the most important Swahili settlements. Lamu's religious history as an Islamic center is also immediately evident as most residents wear traditional robes and headscarves along with the dozens of mosques that broadcast the call to prayer throughout the day.
  The Old Town is located on Lamu's North-Eastern shore. The Southern coast of Lamu is a 12 km long sand beach called "Shela Beach". About 3 km South of the Old Town, at the Eastern end of Shela beach, you will find "Shela Village"; an area with plenty of hotels and restaurants.
• Lodwar — is the largest town in north-western Kenya, located west of Lake Turkana on the A1 road. Its main industries are basket weaving and tourism. The Loima Hills lie to its west. Lodwar is the capital of Turkana County.
• Malindi — is beach resort city in Kenya, located on the Indian Ocean. It is very popular with European tourists, especially rich Italians who buy large houses near the beach.
  The beaches of Malindi are not as spectacular as the Watamu beaches (25 km to the south), and a disadvantage is that the sea is often coffee brown from the Sabaki River, which is not the case in Watamu.
• Meru — town near the base of Mount Kenya. It is the crossroads for travel to Nairobi.
  It is located on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya massif. The town consists of two main parts: the central Meru and junction town which grew in the north, around the junction of B6 and the road to Maua.
  The city is located at 0.047035 degrees north and 37.649803 degrees east, on the northeast slopes of Mount Kenya. The Kathita River passes through the town. Meru is situated about five miles north of the equator, at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, in an area of mixed forest and clearings, small towns, villages and rural farms. The city is predominantly populated by the Meru people, a Bantu ethnic group.
• Nakuru (also lesser known as Nax vegas) — near lake Nakuru National Park and an extinct volcano (Menengai).
  Nakuru is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County, and it is the fourth largest city in Kenya and the largest in the Rift Valley region. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban population of 570,674, making it the largest urban center in the Rift Valley, above Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The city lies along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
• Mtwapa — is in Coastal Kenya. It is a dusty place, about 15 km north of Mombasa and one of the fastest growing communities in Kenya with about 91,000 inhabitants in 2019.
  Mtwapa is particularly popular with guests who want to spend a longer time on Kenya's coast without wanting to afford the expensive luxury beach resorts. It therefore attracts many long-term visitors, especially retirees, who appreciate the affordable rental prices and enjoy the warm sun here during their winter holidays. Mtwapa is not a tourist resort, but a typical Kenyan small town. Mtwapa is known as the "village that never sleeps". Even long after midnight, the streets are full and even street vendors are out and about.