Kayole, a clutter of tall storey buildings

By Michael Oriedo

It is one of the most popular and populous estates in Nairobi. With a population of over half a million, Kayole leads among its peers like Dandora and Umoja estates, which offer affordable housing to the city’s rising population.

The estate located in Nairobi’s Eastlands area is, however, famous for all the wrong reasons. In the past, several incidents of crime, notably kidnapping, have been linked to the estate thus catapulting it to the limelight. In addition, different outlawed gangs operating in the area have muddied its name and clouded its many economic activities.

One of the busy streets in Kayole’s residential area.

These two institutions jostle for attention from residents especially on weekends. However, on who wins, your guess is as good as mine.

Bright future

In the education circles, every year, Kayole claims a stake of national fame in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. New Light Primary, one of the private schools here produces some of the best students.

Very soon, the area is set to transform as businesspeople and property developers strive to explore opportunities offered by Kayole and adjacent estates like Komarock, Umoja, Jacaranda and Donholm.

A Sh103 million shopping mall will be constructed in the area. Dubbed East Gate, the Good Life Mall, the shopping complex will be the first one of its kind in Eastlands.

According to developers, the mall will have a supermarket hall, a banking hall, four ATM lobbies, 30 franchise shops, a cinema hall, a 150-capacity parking space and a food court consisting of eight restaurants.