By Ferdinand Mwongela
A board a route number 33/34 matatu from the Nairobi Central Business District terminating its journey at Pipeline, I tell the conductor to drop me off at Fedha. "Shukisha kwa masonko (drop a passenger at the rich hood)," he says and sure enough, the driver stops at the intersection where the road branches off into Fedha Estate from Outering Road.
This is one of the fast growing hoods along Outering Road viewed by residents of neighbouring estates as one housing the better off members of the society. Other hoods around here that also rise above, in status, the neighbouring "high rise slum" Pipeline and Mukuru are Tassia and Avenue Park estates, all closely hurdled together almost imitating human beings of a certain
Some of the houses in Fedha. |
Red blizzard
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Fedha is sometimes referred to as part of Tassia but has slowly evolved to have an identity of its own.
As you get closer to Fedha, you begin to appreciate the conductor’s words. It is as if a red blizzard hit this area as red roofing iron sheets rule the day. Bungalows to town houses and beautiful modern flats are the order of the day. The only cars that pass you are private or school vans, matatus and buses use Outering Road and residents without cars either walk or take a boda boda from the junction for Sh50 or more.
Strategic location
On the other side, farthest from the road, Fedha borders the massive Nyayo Estate, Embakasi, that stretches almost from North Airport Road. This area is also experiencing rapid growth with houses in different states of completion.
Fedha is served by several schools among them Tassia High School and Fedha School. Inside the estate there are a few shops and the nearest shopping centre is Pipeline and the Nakumatt Embakasi on one side and Donholm on the other.
Its strategic location makes Fedha a favourite for people working at the JKIA airport, in town or along Mombasa Road. You can easily access the estate through Mombasa or Jogoo road by public transport for between Sh30 to Sh70, depending on the time and vehicle.
Matatus mostly charge higher during peak hours while the buses never go beyond Sh50. Rental houses in this area go for Sh6,000 to Sh7,000 for a bed-sitter or studio apartment, Sh12,000 to Sh15,000 for one-bedroom houses and Sh20,000 and above for two bedroom houses.
