Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Nairobi, Kenya
How to research sun path for a specific site in Nairobi — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.
Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames KE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/KE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 184745). Regulatory starting point: [National Construction Authority and the applicable county government](https://www.nca.go.ke/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Direct answer
For Nairobi at -1.2833, 36.8167, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 65.3° at the June solstice, 88.7° at an equinox and 67.8° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 184745 in administrative area 05, at -1.2833, 36.8167; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 65.3° at the June solstice, 88.7° at an equinox and 67.8° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 11.9 hours in June to 12.1 hours in December; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this sun path record.
Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.
What must be verified for Nairobi?
Nairobi is represented here at approximately -1.2833, 36.8167 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.
How should sun path be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Nairobi site remain authoritative.
Nairobi monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 71.15° | 12.063 h | 0.341 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 80.06° | 12.034 h | 0.175 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 89.12° | 12.001 h | 0.015 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 77.14° | 11.965 h | 0.228 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 68.58° | 11.937 h | 0.392 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 65.27° | 11.926 h | 0.461 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 68.28° | 11.936 h | 0.398 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 76.96° | 11.964 h | 0.232 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 88.92° | 12.001 h | 0.019 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 79.53° | 12.036 h | 0.185 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 70.84° | 12.064 h | 0.347 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 67.83° | 12.074 h | 0.407 |
Nairobi solar-geometry fingerprint at -1.2833, 36.8167
- Nairobi, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 71.15°, zenith 18.85°, geometric daylight 12.063 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.341.
- Nairobi, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 80.06°, zenith 9.94°, geometric daylight 12.034 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.175.
- Nairobi, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 89.12°, zenith 0.88°, geometric daylight 12.001 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.015.
- Nairobi, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 77.14°, zenith 12.86°, geometric daylight 11.965 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.228.
- Nairobi, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 68.58°, zenith 21.42°, geometric daylight 11.937 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.392.
- Nairobi, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 65.27°, zenith 24.73°, geometric daylight 11.926 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.461.
- Nairobi, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 68.28°, zenith 21.72°, geometric daylight 11.936 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.398.
- Nairobi, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 76.96°, zenith 13.04°, geometric daylight 11.964 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.232.
- Nairobi, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 88.92°, zenith 1.08°, geometric daylight 12.001 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.019.
- Nairobi, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 79.53°, zenith 10.47°, geometric daylight 12.036 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.185.
- Nairobi, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 70.84°, zenith 19.16°, geometric daylight 12.064 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.347.
- Nairobi, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 67.83°, zenith 22.17°, geometric daylight 12.074 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.407.
Harth computed the Nairobi fingerprint for latitude -1.2833° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude 36.8167° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
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- Sun Path: Karuri, Kenya
- Sun Path: Ongata Rongai, Kenya
- All solar & daylight data guidance for Kenya
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames KE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 184745). Regulatory starting point: National Construction Authority and the applicable county government. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the sun path record for Nairobi establish?
The sun path record for Nairobi establishes a reproducible discovery point at -1.2833, 36.8167 (GeoNames ID 184745, administrative area 05) and a Kenya source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.
What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Nairobi?
For the sun path record in Nairobi, replace the -1.2833, 36.8167 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code and county development-control requirements. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
Related pages
- Sun Path: Mwala, Kenya
Sun path for Mwala, Kenya: solar-noon altitude 65.2° June, 88.6° equinox, 67.9° December; 11.9–12.1 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Naas, Ireland
Sun path for Naas, Ireland: solar-noon altitude 60.2° June, 36.8° equinox, 13.3° December; 7.3–16.7 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Nagpur, India
Sun path for Nagpur, India: solar-noon altitude 87.7° June, 68.9° equinox, 45.4° December; 10.7–13.3 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Naivasha, Kenya
Sun path for Naivasha, Kenya: solar-noon altitude 65.9° June, 89.3° equinox, 67.3° December; 12.0–12.0 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Najafgarh, India
Sun path for Najafgarh, India: solar-noon altitude 84.8° June, 61.4° equinox, 38.0° December; 10.2–13.8 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Nakuru, Kenya
Sun path for Nakuru, Kenya: solar-noon altitude 66.3° June, 89.7° equinox, 66.9° December; 12.0–12.0 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.