This paper deals with two instances of language change in contemporary Nairobi Swahili. It is argued that simplification, even when involved, doesn't always provide an explanation. Thus the first change, that of 'manner complementation', can be explained as a substitution of an English rule. And universal grammar is invoked as the possible source of the second change regarding the form of the copula employed to encode temporary or acquired state in the string 'NP+copula +attribute'.