Naivasha
Naivasha | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 0°43′S 36°26′E / 0.717°S 36.433°E | |
| Country | Kenya |
| County | Nakuru County |
| Elevation | 2,086 m (6,843 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 355,383 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Naivasha is a town in Nakuru County, Kenya, 92.8 km (57.7 mi) north west of Nairobi. From 1969, the population expanded by a factor of 17 times to over 355,383 at the 2019 census. It is situated on the shores of Lake Naivasha, from which it takes its name. The name Naivasha derives from the local Maasai word ɛnaɨpɔ́sha, meaning "that which heaves", a common Maasai word for bodies of water larger enough to have wave action when it is windy or stormy. Naivasha arose as the British attempted to pronounce the Maasai name. Literally, Lake Naivasha means "Lake Lake" and Naivasha Town means "Lake Town".