Nairobi is one of those places which seems to have had everything turned up to 11. Its noise, colour, heat, traffic, population, pollution, smells, security, crime, wealth and poverty are an assault on the senses.
Home to three and a half million residents, or six and a half million if you include the suburbs, the Kenyan capital is the manufacturing, industrial, and financial hub of East and Central Africa.
But the Nairobi’s commercial success is juxtaposed with its poverty. According to a 2014 World Policy report 60 percent of its residents live in slums. In fact the urban slums of Kibera are the largest in Africa with an estimated population of about two million.
It comes as no shock that Nairobi crime levels are high – with regular robberies, burglaries, carjacks, and street crime. In spite of this the positive energy of this city prevails and the smiles people give you as you walk along the street are some of the warmest I have ever had.
Here is a collection of some of my favourite street photographs taken over the last 12 months, while I have been living.
- Piki Piki with an umbrella in Nairobi
- Crossing the road in Nairobi
- Washing day in Nairobi
- Street scene in Nairobi
- Plastic pollution in Nairobi
- Street scene Nairobi
- Shopping in Nairobi
- Washing day in Nairobi
- Poverty in Nairobi
- Street scene on the outskirts of Nairobi
- Fruit stall in Nairobi
- Street market in Nairobi
- Street market in Nairobi
- Street stalls on the outskirts of Nairobi
- Street scene in Nairobi
- Piki piki drivers in Nariobi
- Street scene in Nairobi
- Security overload in Nairobi
- Street scene in Nairobi
- Hub caps for sale in Nairobi
- Goat herder in central Nairobi
- Street scene in Nairobi
- Shoe shopping in Nairobi
- Street market in Nairobi
- Running for the bus in Nairobi
- On the streets of Nairobi
- The slums in Nairobi
- Goat herders in the slums of Nairobi
- Crossing the road in Nairobi
- Bike repair shop in Nairobi
- Street market in Nairobi
- Washing day in Nairobi
- Street art in Nairobi
The buses and matatus, with their gaudy hand painted murals from the world of film, music and football, are a colourful but dangerous addition to the streets. As you are cut up for the tenth time that day by one of the matatu drivers, the religious slogans which are often written on the back, will either make you scream or laugh.
- Matatu with a messge in Nairobi
- Matatu art in Nairobi
- Victory belongs to Jesus on this matatu in Nairobi
- Painted bus in Nairobi
- Football themed matatu in Nairobi
- Adidas – Add Jesus – sign on a bus in Nairobi
- Colourful buses in Nairobi
- Face Off on a bus Matatu
- I ain’t afraid of no ghost, but I am too scared to travel on one of these buses in Nairobi
- In Kenyan buses we trust
- Almost crashed when I read this one on the back of a matatu in Mombasa
Marysia @ My Travel Affairs September 15, 2018
I love those kind of photos, real life photos! Would love to visit!
alidunnell September 15, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks Marysia – It’s a great place to visit, hope you get there one day 🙂
Ruth Holt September 15, 2018
Love these photos, especially the washing on the balconies and the ghostbusters bus!
alidunnell September 15, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks Ruth – both great things to capture on film 🙂
My Ticklefeet September 15, 2018
I recently visited Nairobi a few months back and I was amazed by the amount of people they could fit in that Matatu!! really Nairobi is such a blend of a city. Great capture of the soul of this city in your photos 🙂
alidunnell September 15, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much – yes it’s a bit of a squash and a squeeze on all forms of public transport 🙂
Cultural Wednesday September 15, 2018
Great photos!
alidunnell September 16, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks Catherine 🙂
Christine September 16, 2018
Great photos, these are so eye opening to a part of the world we rarely see people traveling to.
alidunnell September 16, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks for the positive feedback Christine 🙂
josypheen September 16, 2018
I did really love Nairobi for the reasons you described (the noise, the giggles etc.) I think the think I loved best is those amazing purple flowered trees. 🙂
Your photos really remind me of our time there. 😀
alidunnell September 16, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks for commenting – I wanted to capture that busy feeling you get when you walk or travel around Nairobi – I’m glad my photos brought back some good memories 🙂
koreacareer September 16, 2018
Alan and I had a super time walking and photographing Nairobi. Such a bustling place.
alidunnell September 16, 2018 — Post Author
It is certainly a great place for photos – thank you for commenting 🙂
M G M Nair September 16, 2018
Great pictures!
alidunnell September 16, 2018 — Post Author
Thank you 🙂
thewonderer86 September 17, 2018
I love your opening sentence. That’s how I feel about India!
alidunnell September 18, 2018 — Post Author
Always a mish-mash of emotions and a real overload on the senses – and I agree India has a similar feeling.
Frans December 9, 2020
Great shots! Love your images. They are based on reality.