Nakuru, city, west central Kenya, capital of Rift Valley Province. It is an important transportation, commercial, and manufacturing center for the highland region; products include processed food and textiles. Menengai Crater, just north of the city, and Lake Nakuru and Lake Nakuru National Park, to the south, are nearby points of interest. The city of Nakuru was founded by European settlers in the early 20th century. Population (1991 estimate) 150,000.