Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft). The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census.