Nakuru, Regional capital in Rift Valley, Kenya
Nakuru sits at 1,850 meters elevation in the Rift Valley and ranks among Kenya's larger population centers. The settlement spreads along several main roads lined with residential neighborhoods, schools, and university buildings.
The British colonial administration founded the settlement in 1904 and granted it municipality status in 1952. Decades later, in 2021, it officially received city status.
The name comes from the Maasai language and means swirling dust, a reference to the windy highland plains surrounding the area. Today several communities live here, and their daily routines shape the open markets and craft neighborhoods found across the settlement.
The highland location means moderate temperatures year-round, so light jackets for evenings are advisable. Many facilities line the main thoroughfares, and orientation is straightforward if you follow these routes.
In November 2021, UNESCO designated the settlement as a Creative City for Craft and Folk Arts. This recognition came just weeks before the government officially granted it city status.
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