# Timeline of Nairobi

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

## Prior to 20th century

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

## 20th century
### 1900s-1920s

* 1900 - Incorporated as the Township of Nairobi
* 1901
** Native Civil hospital opens.
** The Nairobi Club established
* 1904 - Norfolk Hotel opens.
* 1905
** British East Africa Protectorate capital moves from Mombasa to Nairobi.
** Nairobi Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman Religious and Charitable Funds established.
* 1906
** Jamia Mosque construction started.
** Royal Nairobi Golf Club founded.
* 1907 - British Government House built.
* 1909 - East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society established.
* 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-1950s

* 1930 - Coryndon Museum opens.
* 1931 - McMillan lending library (for white settlers) opens.
* 1934 - Sir Ali Muslim Club (cricket) founded.
* 1935 - Nairobi becomes a municipality.
* 1939 - St. Mary's School founded.
* 1944 - Kenya Conservatoire of Music founded.
* 1946 - Nairobi National Park established.
* 1947 - Kenya National Archives headquartered in city.
* 1948
** East African Literature Bureau founded.
** Population: 118,976 (urban agglomeration).
* 1949 - American Center Library established.
* 1950 - Nairobi became a city
* 1951 - Railway rerouted via Kibera
* 1952
** City Council formed.
** Princess Elizabeth Hospital opens.
* 1953 - Nairobi Dam constructed.
* 1954
** Legislative Council (Legco) Building opened
** Ngong Racecourse opens.
** European Hospital opens.
* 1955
** Israel Somen elected mayor.
** Government Indian School renamed Duke of Gloucester School
* 1956
** Royal Technical College established.
** East African Library Association headquartered in city.
* 1958
** Nairobi Embakasi Airport opened
** Embassy Cinema opened.
** Thika Rd Drive-In (later renamed Fox Drive-In) opened
** Kenya Cinema opened
** New Donovan Maule Theatre opened
** Aga Khan Hospital opened

### 1960s-1970s

* 1961 - Kenya Polytechnic established.
* 1962 - Nairobi West Airport renamed Wilson Airport
* 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.
* 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."
** Population: 630,000 urban agglomeration.
* 1975
** Uchumi Supermarkets founded.
** City hosts World Council of Churches conference.
* 1978 - Mazingira Institute founded.

### 1980s-1990s

* 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.
** Phoenix Players theatre troupe active.
* 1985
** Kenyatta University established.
** Third UN World Conference on Women held from 15 to 26 July 1985
* 1987
** Moi International Sports Centre built.
** City hosts All-Africa Games.
* 1989 - Kenya College of Accountancy founded.
* 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.
* 2000
** New Central Bank Tower built.
** Population: 2,230,000 (urban agglomeration).

## 21st century
### 2000s

* 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.
** City hosts African Championships in Athletics.
** IHub opens.
** June: Blast occurs during protest in Uhuru Park.
** Population: 3,109,861 (estimate).
* 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, US.
* 2013
** Nairobi County administrative division effected.
** 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.
* 2017
** Two Rivers Shopping Complex at the northern boundary shopping centre of Ruaka opened
** June 1-The first phase of the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, built by the China Road & Bridge Construction Company mainly funded by China Exim Bank and the Government of Kenya is inaugurated by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
* 2018 - Part of 2018 African Nations Championship football contest to be played in Nairobi.