Inside Nairobi CBD's First Brick Building: Story of a Man Impressing Girlfriend

A collage image of Stanbic Bank along Kenyatta Avenue.
A collage image of Stanbic Bank along Kenyatta Avenue.
COURTESY

Among British colonialists who came to Kenya in the 1920s, Ewart Grogan was no ordinary man.

The businessman - who came to the country as an explorer - was a great admirer of architecture, in particular, the Swedish City Hall in Stockholm.

Inspired by the Swedish building - famed for its exterior brick outlook - Grogan approached American architect, Robert Henderson Robertson, to design a building that would stand out in the country's capital.

A collage image of Gertrude Watt (LEFT) and Ewart Grogan (RIGHT).
A collage image of Gertrude Watt (LEFT) and Ewart Grogan (RIGHT).
COURTESY

Consequently, in the early 1920s, construction of the current Stanbic Bank building along Kenyatta Avenue began with bricks being the main component.

Upon completion, Grogan named the building Torr in honour of his boss, Joseph Torr.

The British explorer later sold the building to another businessman, Joe Torr, who was a baker by profession and wanted to venture into the hospitality industry in Nairobi. Joe named the hotel Torr hotel.

However, in 1956, Torr sold the building to a Turkish financial institution and the ownership of the building has since revolved around many banks.

Over the years, the building has maintained the brick red colour to maintain its rich history in the country's capital city.

Unknown to many, Grogan became famous after walking for over 10,000 kilometres to express his love for his girlfriend.

Grogan is reported to have walked from Cairo to Cape Town to prove that he was a worthy man to marry the daughter of British Merchant, James Watt.

In his girlfriend's honour, Grogan named a hospital after her in 1947. The hospital is the current Gertrude's Children's Hospital.

"Then aged only 24 years, Grogan declared he would trek from Cape Town to Cairo to show he was worthy of the daughter of wealthy British businessman, James Watt, they thought he was joking. 

"Grogan decided that it was the lovely Gertrude Watt or nothing - and if the trek through some of the world’s most intimidating terrain would prove him to be worthy of her love, then so be it," the hospital states on its website.

An image of Gertrude's Children's Hospital in Nairobi.
An image of Gertrude's Children's Hospital in Nairobi.
Gertrude's Children's Hospital