I have been coming to Nairobi since 2023, but the things I’ve experienced in the last three days made me reach the conclusion that Nairobi is definitely the Lagos of East Africa.
And Kenya? Kenya is the Nigeria of East Africa.
Tell me why I left Lagos and came all the way to Nairobi, only to enter traffic that made me ask myself, “What is going on here? Is this Lagos?”
The traffic here is cray cray....Its Long, unending traffic. Everybody is moving slowly, but somehow everybody is in a hurry. At some point, I just relaxed because this one is familiar territory.
But there is one difference , the traffic here is posh traffic and they actually obey traffic lights but in Naija? let me not talk too much. Una sabi how far!!!
There is also roadside selling. Hellooo!!!"
You thought Lagos people were the only ones who turned traffic into a shopping mall? Come to Nairobi and cook stew in traffic!
You can buy almost anything in traffic. Go to Kilimani or Westlands and you’ll see people selling by the roadside and inside traffic.
You can buy almost anything in traffic. Go to Kilimani or Westlands and you’ll see people selling by the roadside and inside traffic.
Anyway Hustle na hustle, whether you’re in Lagos or Nairobi.
And these Nairobians, they are always in a hurry. They walk fast. In the mornings, nobody is strolling. Men, women, everybody is moving like whoever reaches the office first will collect two salaries.
Then there is Pipeline. That place is giving me serious Agege vibes. Densely populated, loud, busy, socially active, nightlife hot, people everywhere, and that Lagos energy where you don’t need an invitation before you know something is happening.
And then there is Kibera , Nairobi’s own Ajegunle, also known as AJ City.
So you see, I didn’t travel all the way to Kenya. I just changed regions.
Even the weather is behaving like Lagos weather.
You wake up to 16 or 17 degrees and think, “Okay, it’s chilly, let me carry my jacket.” Before you say Jack Robinson, the sun comes out and starts slapping your skin. People who wore jackets in the morning will now carry them like hand luggage.
Thankfully, I checked the weather before leaving Nigeria, so I came prepared with my normal clothes.
And Nairobi nightlife. It is giving Lagos, except these people can drink. They can drink for Africa.
Nigerians like to multitask. We drink and eat. As we are drinking, we are taking chicken, asun, catfish, nkwobi, pepper soup and all sorts of things. Happiness everywhere.
But these Kenyans, no. If they want to eat, they eat. If they want to drink, they drink. No distraction. They are simply saying, “Abeg, don’t come and spoil the taste of the drink.”
And these Nairobians, they are always in a hurry. They walk fast. In the mornings, nobody is strolling. Men, women, everybody is moving like whoever reaches the office first will collect two salaries.
Then there is Pipeline. That place is giving me serious Agege vibes. Densely populated, loud, busy, socially active, nightlife hot, people everywhere, and that Lagos energy where you don’t need an invitation before you know something is happening.
And then there is Kibera , Nairobi’s own Ajegunle, also known as AJ City.
So you see, I didn’t travel all the way to Kenya. I just changed regions.
Even the weather is behaving like Lagos weather.
You wake up to 16 or 17 degrees and think, “Okay, it’s chilly, let me carry my jacket.” Before you say Jack Robinson, the sun comes out and starts slapping your skin. People who wore jackets in the morning will now carry them like hand luggage.
Thankfully, I checked the weather before leaving Nigeria, so I came prepared with my normal clothes.
And Nairobi nightlife. It is giving Lagos, except these people can drink. They can drink for Africa.
Nigerians like to multitask. We drink and eat. As we are drinking, we are taking chicken, asun, catfish, nkwobi, pepper soup and all sorts of things. Happiness everywhere.
But these Kenyans, no. If they want to eat, they eat. If they want to drink, they drink. No distraction. They are simply saying, “Abeg, don’t come and spoil the taste of the drink.”
That is why we don’t get high in Lagos. The food is doing the work.
The biggest similarity is that everybody is a hustler. Everybody is working, selling, buying, connecting, moving, simply trying to make a living.
So yes, after three days in this city, I have concluded that if I can survive in Lagos, I can survive in Nairobi.
In fact, i can survive anywhere!
IT’S RON
The biggest similarity is that everybody is a hustler. Everybody is working, selling, buying, connecting, moving, simply trying to make a living.
So yes, after three days in this city, I have concluded that if I can survive in Lagos, I can survive in Nairobi.
In fact, i can survive anywhere!
IT’S RON
xoxoxo
Sure...
ReplyDeleteLove what I read..Keep it coming
😊🙏
DeleteSure...
ReplyDeleteLove what I read..Keep it coming
Love what I just read..Nice one..
ReplyDeleteKeep the information coming sister
Educative..haven't gone to Kenya nor Nairobi but you have taken me there by sharing all this amazing facts about them
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I was able to do that. 🙏😊
DeleteNice one Ron.
ReplyDeleteEyin omo Agege owo yin da
ReplyDeleteE je ka r'owo yin oh.
Agege is my crib, and you're so correct about your description.
You really enjoyed your trip, of course if one can survive Nigeria, surviving in another country will be a walk in the park.
Awa omo A-ege re e oooo😁😊
DeletePerson fit start owambe for traffic
ReplyDeleteTheir public transport, equivalent to danfo,is called matatu. A matatu is typically a moving night club, I kid you not!
DeleteWow! And we think we Nigerians are the most hustlers 😁. As for traffic, I am not surprised.
ReplyDeleteThe drinking aspect is also surprising 😁
Enjoy your stay sis
Nairobi people are never lazy! Very hardworking. The do have a lot in common with us.
DeleteHustlers are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteInteresting indeed!
Oh wow!
ReplyDeleteYou would not miss home much
Not so much. 😁
DeleteThank you Ron for making me to know Kenya through your eyes.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome 😊😊😊
DeleteYou're most welcome 😊😊😊
DeleteThanks,I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteNice one, Ron.
ReplyDeleteWow! I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read 📍📍
ReplyDeleteThank Ron
Interesting read 📍📍
ReplyDeleteThank Ron
Beautifully written, Ron. I enjoyed every bit of it. Keep it coming 💕
ReplyDelete