The City Makers of Nairobi: An African Urban History

The City Makers of Nairobi re-examines the history of the urban development of Nairobi in the colonial period. Although Nairobi was a colonial construct with lasting negative repercussions, the African population’s impact on its history and development is often overlooked. This book shows how Africans took an active part in making use of the city and creating it, and how they were far from being subjects in the development of a European colonial city.

This re-interpretation of Nairobi’s history suggests that the post-colonial city is the result of more than unjust and segregative colonial planning. Merging historical documentation with extensive contemporary urban theory, this book provides in-depth knowledge of the key historical roles played by locals in the development of their city. It argues that the idea of agency, a popular inroad to urban development today, is not a current phenomenon but one that has always existed with its many social, spatial, and physical ramifications.

This is an ideal read for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students studying the history of urban development and theories, providing an in-depth case study for reference. The City Makers of Nairobi broaches interdisciplinary themes important to urban planners, social scientists, historians, and those working with popular settlements in cities across the world.

Anders Ese grew up in Kenya and Zambia. He is an urbanist with a PhD on mapping, data collection, and analysis of complex urban settings in Nairobi. With a focus on interdisciplinary approaches, Anders works on issues of urbanisation, poverty, identities, and sustainability in East and Southern Africa. He is a partner in Urban-A, a company delivering analysis and strategies for inclusive cities.

Kristin Ese is an historian specialising in urban history, particularly in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, with a special interest in the importance of Swahili culture on urban development. As an historian her work focuses on how her field can inform current analysis and developments. Kristin has lived for several years in Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania. She has published a number of books and has worked as a lecturer at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).