Nairobi hosts the first edition of the annual Nairobi city festival. This event was scheduled to be held from the 12th-17th of December. 

In the afternoon on the 12th of December, the Nairobi city council Governor Sakaja Johnson, accompanied by Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri, county secretary, Dr. Jairus Musumba, Nairobi county executives, county assembly leadership and county staff formally unveiled the Nairobi festival at Uhuru park.

The Governor in his opening speech said “for the next six days, the Nairobi festival, organized by the Nairobi City County Government will provide a platform to celebrate the diversity of Nairobi, as well as its rich creative arts and culture and ICT. The festival will consist of five key pillars, namely visual and performing arts, sports, culture and trade. In addition, there will be an information communication and technology exhibition, whose aim will be to further the level of engagement between ICT professionals, as well as to exhibit industry innovations. I want to urge Nairobi residents that their security will be guaranteed, and it will be at a very high level, so let nobody try anything funny”. He continued “this extravaganza will provide a platform for Nairobi youth to showcase the abundant talent in this city and support the creative arts, this is exactly what we are doing. We have been open to partnerships to make Nairobi work. Within 30 days of assuming office, we have had a dozen partners put pen to paper to long lasting partnership agreements; something that we are grateful for and do not take for granted”.

Over 50 Nairobi artists will be performing throughout the duration of the event.

The event is ending on the 17th which also happens to be the festival’s cyclist day. The cyclists will be joining the festival from the central park.

The Governor had said that charges from the event will go towards a Christmas package to the needy and vulnerable in Nairobi.