For most Kenyans who live in the rural area, coming to Nairobi is always an exciting experience. This feeling is normal, seeing as Nairobi is one of the most beautiful capital cities in Africa. However, just like any other African capital, Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, is full of twists & surprises. Here are five things that nobody tells you about before coming to Nairobi.
Stubborn Traffic
Just like many African urban areas, Nairobi is sometimes characterized by roads full of vehicles and overcrowded pathways. Here, congestion is a blend of chaotic movements; personal cars, matatus, hiking passengers, motorbikes and even bicycles.
It is not uncommon to bump into crowded pedestrians along thin pavements, where people are often darting and criss-crossing streets and highways like swans. Next time you come to Nairobi, be prepared to encounter this reality.
Understand Sheng to Communicate
Because of its multi-ethnic residents, Nairobi has in the recent past coined a common code of communication by fusing Kiswahili and English to create Sheng. Here, if you are unfamiliar with ‘Sheng’ or ‘Lugha ya Mtaa’ you might easily get confused. Here, money is ‘Ganji’, Girl is ‘Dem’ and House is ‘Jake’.
Every Red Light is a Shopping Spree
In Nairobi, hawkers have devised a clever way of surviving. Whenever there is a traffic stop, this lot swarms your way with a variety of things in hand, including comps, nail cutters, socks, handkerchiefs and pencils.
For newcomers, if you are not careful, you might end up with a bag full of unwanted items that you bought just to keep your peace. Despite being a beautiful city under the sun, Nairobi is where chaos blends with charm in strange ways that are beyond comprehension. It is a city that demands thoughtful calm over haste
