Nairobi trying to shed “Nairobbery” image, starts walking tours

The nickname “Nairobbery” does little to help the image of Kenya’s unruly capital. That could be changing. The region is witnessing rising visitor numbers…driven heavily by the increased spending power and travel habits of Africa’s growing middle class.

On May 26, Nairobi visitors enjoyed the city’s first historical walking tours. Two-hour trips now pass by the 1950s parliament buildings, Khoja Mosque and a bronze statue of Kenya’s founding president, Jomo Kenyatta.

Sharon Kyungu, spokesperson for the National Museums of Kenya, said the tours “offer visitors something more than just beaches and wildlife” and will help it compete with Africa’s destination cities, such as Cairo and Cape Town.