By Kiundu Waweru
"It’s funny how some people say they live in Nairobi when, everyday when going to work, they pass the big billboard sign that announces; ‘Welcome to the city of Nairobi.’ In the evening, as the same people go home, they see the reverse side of that billboard, this time saying, ‘Kwaheri, karibu tena.’ (Goodbye, see you soon)."
This was Churchill’s (one of Kenya’s famous comedians) way of poking fun at Kinoo residents. Incidentally, Churchill was once a resident of Kinoo before he made it big and ‘made his bones’ as the Italians say.
However, if he was to return today, he would be surprised to see the changes in Kinoo as it is transforming into a metropolitan urbanite ‘shags’.
A modern gated apartment complex in Kinoo. An increase in migrant tenants has encouraged real estate development in the serene village town. READ MOREUgandan international James Ssemambo eager to adapt to FKF Premier League Kenya's provisional squad for AFCON U-20 CECAFA qualifiers unveiled After Shakahola forest massacre, residents face economic hardship University workers' unions reject CS Ogamba's return-to-work deal |
Flats and residential houses are sprouting up every single day. With the increase in construction work, hardware shops are enjoying booming business.
Today, an increasing number of people are migrating from Nairobi’s Eastlands and upmarket city estates to live in Kinoo. Makumi Gichanga, 61, a bona fide resident of Kinoo, explains: "Our town enjoys proximity to the capital city, unpolluted environment and house rent here is fair. In addition, we don’t suffer traffic jams along Waiyaki Way the way residents of Thika, Eastlands, Lang’ata Roads and Mombasa Road suffer."
Origins of kinoo
The influx of people has created demand for houses, which is making real estate developers very happy. "For a place to develop," says Makumi, "outsiders must be involved. Today, Kinoo’s population is comprised of about 30 per cent original dwellers and 70 per cent newcomers."
Retired journalist Frederick Ndung’u, 60, says Kinoo has always been rich as its people are industrious. However, the newcomers are taking the development of this town to new heights. According to him, Kinoo is the busiest centre along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
"Kinoo market is the only one I know that has electricity lights, and which closes at 10 pm," he says
A couple of years ago, Ndung’u researched the history of Kinoo and compiled it into a booklet.
He discovered that Kinoo began as early as 1907 when two extended families on one side (Wamagata and Gichanga families) and the great Waiyaki family on the other hand became the first to embrace education and Christianity (through the Presbyterian Church).
Today, some of the great descendants have inter-married and, although one will occasionally hear the name Gichanga and Wamagata, most of Kinoo inhabitants do not know this history as they are newcomers.
The influx of new migrants has seen prices of plots, houses and other properties skyrocket. Charles Muturi, a real estate agent based at the shopping centre, says he is surprised by the town’s rapid growth.
A section of the shopping centre. Photos/Ann Kamoni/Standard |
"I have lived in Kinoo for a couple of years," he says. "A few years back, this town was just an ordinary village. Today all that has changed because a lot of young professionals are settling here. They are attracted by the serene surroundings."
Because a lot of these young professionals are financially stable, most don’t seem to mind the house rent, a factor that has pushed the figures up.
Property prices on the rise
"Most of the young professionals who have moved here work in Westlands. Since Kinoo is considered more secure than Kangemi and Uthiru, they have decided to settle here," says Muturi.
Peter Ngugi, a businessman at the shopping centre who has run his dry cleaning business for a number of years, says he is amazed by the town’s growth.
"A few years back, a 50 by 100 feet piece of land fetched less than one million shillings. Today, the same piece of land is selling at Sh3 million."
As a result of this price hike, the locals have began disposing off their land in the hope of getting rich, further facilitating the town’s real estate growth.
The demand for land is now high, which is further pushing the prices upwards. A 50 by 100 feet of land situated between 100 to 300 metres from the highway is selling at Sh3 million.
A 100 by 100 feet of land in the same region costs Sh6 million. Plots of similar sizes situated 300 to 600 metres from the main road fetch Sh2 million and Sh4 million respectively.
Relatively secure
As for rentals, a one bedroom house or flat situated 100 to 300 metres from the highway goes for Sh10,000 per month.
Rent for two bedrooms is pegged at between Sh13,000 to Sh15,000. Ngugi says the level of house rent is determined by accessibility to the main road, security and the condition of the house.
A lot of tenants also take into consideration the size of the house and the quality of its finishing. For instance, an expatriate who owns a one-bedroom flat situated 100 metres from the main road lets it out for Sh25,000.
Crime rate in Kinoo is relatively low compared to of its immediate neighbours, namely Wangige, Gachie, Kangemi and Uthiru.
The area chief, Michael Kanyonga Mukono, concurs; "Kinoo is a low crime area and is conducive for developers, tenants and businessmen. The only bad seeds here are pickpockets and petty thieves who mug people and steal clothes from the drying line."
The chief also adds that several carjackings have taken place and authorities are working double time to curb the crime.
The area seems poised for urbanisation as envisioned by the Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development, Mutula Kilonzo.
