Residents of Nairobi impressed by drawing on Mama Ngina street

The mural painted on the pavement, depicts the map of Kenya with a giant cistern emptying clean water into a pool.

The creative use of colour, design, and thematic treatment seems to create the feeling that Nairobi is flowing with life – not just a concrete jungle – but a beautiful place for all.

Nairobi’s name is derived from the Maasai phrase Eenkare Nyirobi which translates to "place of cool waters”.

The mural creates an illusion, giving it a real life appearance; so real that some pedestrians tend to side step it, fearing that they are about to plunge into a pool of water.

“I have seen people jump in fear upon stepping on the drawing thinking they are about to fall inside a pool of water,” Wafula, a boda boda rider in the CBD told Wananchi Reporting.

“It’s almost scary especially to those seeing it for the first time. I guess that’s because people in Nairobi are always in a rush. I have seen people almost jumping out of their skin after stepping on the drawing,” added Wafula.

“I love the thinking behind the art. It won’t hurt if we have more of such,” he adds.

 Mary Nyambura who works in Nairobi CBD told Wananchi Reporting that the art piece is unique and refreshing.

“This is not just a piece of art; I think it is meant to communicate a message to the people of Nairobi and Kenya in general. It could be a message of peace, of opportunities,” said Nyambura.

Many have interpreted the mural differently.

“I don’t see any special message in this piece of art. I feel it is just a piece of art, like any other drawing, but I love it,” said Zakaria Otieno, a trader in Nairobi.

Murals can be done on walls and ceilings of buildings with a wide range of pictures, figured scenes or landscape.

The Nairobi County has been promoting use of murals; allowing its use on buildings like one done on the ExTelecoms building, the Eliud Kipchoge's mural near the ICEA building along Kenyatta Avenue, and the one on City Market.