Kenya Association of Women in Tourism

Apartments along Lenana Road.

By Wangeci Kanyeki

Lenana Road is one of those neighbourhoods in Nairobi that comfortably blends residential, commercial and diplomatic buildings.  Stemming from Ralph Bunche Road, there are middle and upper class apartments such as Spanish Villas, Camden Court, Lenana Suites Serviced Apartments, Horton Court, Sandlewood Lenana and Silverpool Apartments amongst others.  

While some apartments have been converted for commercial use by small and medium enterprises, other office blocks like ACS Plaza, Laibon Centre, CVS Plaza and Rosanhanmaer Plaza are mainly used as offices. 

In addition, this prestigious road is home to diplomatic offices such as the South African High Commission, Embassy of Russian Federation, Nigerian High Commision, Sri Lanka High Commission and Royal Thai Embassy.

Roads that feed  into Lenana Road  include Wood Avenue, Chaka Road, Nyangumi, Kasuku, Rose Avenue, Mtito Andei , Woodland  and Turbo Road which leads to New Life Home Trust for those seeking to visit, support or adopt abandoned babies.  

Health centres based in this neighbourhood include the Ministry of Health  Spinal Injury hospital and Pharmacy & Poisons Board offices.  Also sitting on this road is the National irrigation Board Head office. 

Good hotels

Lenana Road also hosts restaurants suitable for business lunches and fine dines such as recently opened Norwegian seafood restaurant O’Sinkirri, which is Masai word for Fish, Italian restaurant Osteria Del Chianti, Cedars restaurant, Godials bed & breakfast and the popular Sherehez grill and lounge.

Residents and office tenants enjoy close proximity to social amenities and shopping malls such as Yaya Centre and the nearby Nakumatt Prestige and Uchumi supermarkets  along Ngong Road.  While the  road is well tarmacked and paved,  a tour at night suggests  a need for additional lighting for improved lighting.  

Parking appears to also be a problem as cars precariously park on the kerbs outside popular restaurants at night.  This is not possible during the day as the yellow robed City Council  of Nairobi parking attendants would gladly clamp the wheels of vehicles parked in this manner.  

A  bypass road is being constructed from Langata Road via Lenana Road  through to Kileleshwa, which is expected to alleviate traffic jam and increase the value of properties along Lenana Road.

Facilities such as Kilimani Police Station and Nairobi Hospital are close by should the need arise.  There is also a wide selection of schools around the area that children can attend such as Logos School near Chaka place, Rose of Sharon along Ngong Road, Riara Schools, Makini and Cavina School amongst others.