Abdel Nasser Road

In 1698, the Omanis conquered Mombasa, taking control from the Portuguese. The Sultan of Oman proceeded to take control over Zanzibar and made Stone Town the capital of Oman. Upon his death in 1856, the kingdom was divided into Oman and the Sultanate of Zanzibar following a dispute by his sons, Majid and Thuwain, who both claimed the Sultan title.

Majid bin Said was appointed rulership over Zanzibar, and served as Sultan from the year his father died up until 1870 when he passed away. His brother Barghash bin Said took over until 1888. During Barghash’s rule, Zanzibar was modernised. Bridges, roads, and modern buildings that served as hospitals and administration blocks were built.  

Mombasa was a prominent town under the Zanzibar administration and needed to be governed by a suitable person. The Sultan appointed fellow Omani, Salim bin Khalfan as Liwali (Governor) of Mombasa in 1884.  Salim had initially been residing in Malindi, but put packed his bags and relocated to Mombasa to take up his new position. He would be replacing a Liwali who had misappropriated food sent to relieve a famine – though there are no legitimate sources that confirm the name of the Liwali Salim would be replacing. 

Salim however served as Mombasa’s Liwali up until 1912, with a short break in 1888. He presided over barazas, where views of the people were heard and considered. He prevented discord among the people of Mombasa, and once a year he travelled to Zanzibar to report to the Sultan and receive his reward for his services. His remuneration depended on whether or not the Sultan was pleased with his performance. Overall, his ability to handle difficult situations is one of the attributes that contributed to his long tenure. 

Before he was named Liwali, around 1870, Salim had a son by an Ethiopian woman. The boy was named Ali and as was customary in naming, he took on his father’s name, thus being called ‘Ali bin Salim’. In his later years Ali would follow in his father’s footsteps. Both father and son worked with the British during the Mazrui uprising of 1896 and later Ali was sent to Oxford University to study English. Between the end of the war and Ali’s departure to England, the then Sultan handed over the Mombasa Fort – Fort Jesus – to the British. This was the start of dual administration at the East African coast. All Liwalis under the Sultanate started receiving salaries from the British who now had a say in leadership roles. Upon Ali’s return, the British promoted him to act as Deputy Liwali, assistant to his father. 

In 1912 King George V awarded Salim bin Khalfan the Companion in The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services rendered in connection with military operations during the Mazrui Uprising.  

When Salim stepped down as Liwali, Ali took his place and eventually came to be known as Sir Ali bin Salim.  

When modernisation of Mombasa began in 1907, Ali bin Salim made sure he had a seat at the table. He was specifically keen in road construction which he saw as an essential tool for the development of the town. He sat on the roads committee from 1909 and promoted the construction of a major arterial road set to run directly across the island from the Freretown ferry towards Likoni. 

Because he wanted this road to be named after his father, Sir Ali took it upon himself to purchase land for the construction of this road wherever he could, and in other zones where the road would pass, he arranged for the landowners to be compensated – even down to the coconut trees that needed to be cut down for the road to be built. 

Sir Ali enjoyed the business of buying and selling property and land exchanges. In 1910 he traded 100 acres of land with the colonial government for a plot at Kilindini and a map of the area. The colonial government would later set up Kilifi town on the 100 acres.  

Despite the painfully slow and difficult process of building Salim Road, by 1914 developments were noted. The road was completed and named after Salim bin Khalfan. Salim Road was popularly known for the bustling Mackninnon Market opened that same year and named after the colonial governor at the time, Sir Henry Mackinnon. And while the market has remained an important shopping centre to date, after independence, Salim Road took on a new name. 

Insert Kenya in the 50s 

The Mau Mau Rebellion was an 8-year war between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA or Mau Mau) and the British authorities in Kenya. This uprising began in 1952 with the aim of ending colonial rule in Kenya.  

While this was a war happening within Kenya, the rebellion was supported by President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt through an intensified, diplomatic media campaign against British rule in Kenya. Under President Nasser command, Egypt established a radio station – ‘Voice of Africa’ – that would support indigenous Kenyans in the fight for liberation.  

In broadcasting the happenings in Kenya and actively supporting Kenyans want for independence, Voice of Africa made the Mau Mau Uprising an African cause. The station further pushed for the release of Kapenguria detainee Jomo Kenyatta. 

But this wasn’t all President Nasser and the Egyptian government did for Kenyans; Cairo was the first capital to host Kenyan liberation fighters such as Tom Mboya, James Gichuru, Oginga Odinga, Joseph Murumbi and other members of the KANU and KADU political parties.  

In a show of gratitude, when Kenya attained independence in 1963 and became a republic the following year, Salim Road was renamed Abdel Nasser Road.