NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK: THE UNSUNG HERO – MERVYN COWIE!!! - By GARETH JONES In 1898 the Uganda Railway project reached a point where there was a swampy section at the railway marker of “mile 326”. The water was deemed clean and fresh enough to declare the place as a water station for the railway project. Soon there was also a small hotel, and a trading store and an administration office. The British enquired from the local Masai what the name of the place was, they were told it was "Enkare Nyrobi" meaning the place of “cool waters”, however, they translated the name as Nairobi.