Does your account read Sh100 million? This is where the rich live in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret

An aerial view of a private homes under construction in Nairobi's up class area [Photo: Jacob Otieno]

• These are some estates where few people are on foot, and live behind the massive gates
• A few million shillings in your bank account would not afford you a chance to live here
• The crème de la crème of our society and those who have made it reside here

Walking in Gigiri, you feel lost and you most likely are. Hawk eyed security guards peer from slots in massive gates, and along the roads private security firms' patrol vehicles are parked strategically.

You get the same sense along Riverside Drive in Nairobi. You can hear those peep holes click open and shut, and the sense of being watched just doesn't leave you.

These are some estates where few people are on foot, and behind the massive gates and conspicuous security lie the lairs of the rich. Those who have made it. 

A few million shillings in your bank account would not afford you a chance to live here. We are talking hundreds of millions. Wannabes would be best advised to stick to Kileleshwa and bid their time.

In its 2013 report, the Global Property Guide listed Nairobi among the top 100 'most expensive cities' in the world in which to buy a high-end apartment.

Local property agents further attest that the recent sale by Knight Frank of a property worth Sh765 million (an old colonial house built on about nine acres) in Lower Kabete is a clear indication of how pricy Kenya's real estate really is.

Sam Manjau of Abec Real Estate attributes the demand for property in the traditionally posh addresses across the country to increasing demand for a lavish lifestyle which some of these areas offers thanks to their serenity, exclusivity and advanced infrastructure.

Which are some of these pricy estates in Kenya?

In Nairobi, residential estates like Old Muthaiga, Gigiri, Runda, Karen, Nyari, Old Kitisuru, Roselyn, parts of Lavington, Spring Valley, Ridgeways and Kyuna are havens for the moneyed.

These estates are marked as residential and land is strictly sub-divided to a minimum of half an acre per family.

Runda

In Runda a spacious and well-presented double storey house, complete with a living room fire space, dining room, family room, six bedrooms, four bathrooms (two of which are ensuite), kitchen with a breakfast area and two staff room is going for Sh98million.

Another house with similar specifications on Ruaka Drive, is up for rent at Sh400,000 per month.

Its proximity to the United Nations headquarters in Gigiri and the American Embassy offices has not only helped boost security in this area but has also informed the high property prices here.

A house in Runda [Photo: Courtesy]

"Runda and it close surroundings are often referred to as the 'expatriate estate'. This is because many of the properties here are often leased to diplomats.

Its good roads and the fact that Runda has its own water supply system (Runda Water) are some of the attractive attributes of this area," says Manjau.

These residents also boast one of the most vibrant resident associations.

Nonetheless, recent proposed developments in Runda continue to torment many residents who feel their exclusivity is threatened.

A few metres away in Gigiri, along UN Crescent, a 0.75 acre of undeveloped land best for office or residential development goes for Sh225million.

To the north is Muthaiga which for a long time has been the most exclusive neighbourhood in Nairobi. Here an acre of undeveloped land goes for an average of Sh120 million.

Muthaiga has experienced increased development especially in parts of New Muthaiga.

However, sections of Old Muthaiga have managed to remain exclusive due to very stringent sub-division and building laws.

Old Muthaiga

Manjau names Naivasha Avenue and its intersection Tchui Road as the most exclusive part of Old Muthaiga.

Some of the prominent residents of Old Muthaiga Tchui Road are former President Mwai Kibaki and Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

Closer to the Central Business District is Riverside which neighbours Spring Valley, Lavington and Westlands. Various high commissions are found here. They include the Australian, Ugandan and Malawi commissions and the German, Danish and Dutch embassies.

A house in Muthaiga [Photo: Courtesy]

Popular types of houses in Riverside include modern townhouses, maisonettes, pent houses and various apartments.

On Riverside Drive, 0.75 acres is on sale for Sh130 million. Rent for a four bedroom apartment complete with a swimming pool, servants' quarters and garden is on average Sh200,000 per month.

Living in most of these posh estates, one needs to own a car as there is no public transport.

Some of formerly affluent addresses on the other hand have fast become fully-fledged commercial zones for example, Upper Hill, Hurlingham, Kilimani and parts of Lavington.

The price of property in these commercial zones is not cheap either according to Collins Kowuor, former chair of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK).

He points out that in Upper Hill half an acre goes for Sh300million while an acre goes for Sh500milion.

"The emergence of townhouses and apartments in Lavington, has contributed a lot to the area losing its exclusivity," he adds.

Kowuor, who is the immediate former chairman of ISK, further argues that sections of the city were previously designated as residential areas but have since been rezoned to mixed user districts as a result of urbanisation.

Off Peponi road in the prime Kitusuru area a four bedroom, all en-suite, stand-alone house sitting on 0.75 acres, with a sprawling garden and pool is being let for Sh500,000, with a sale price of Sh223million.

Prominent personalities who live or have lived in Kitisuru include Gerishon Kirima a once powerful city politician and businessman, businessman Brian Yongo and politician JJ Kamotho.

Kitisuru, however, completely relies on piped water supplied by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, which is a challenge according to some of the residents.

Along Red Hill road is the highly secured Nyari upmarket estate. Here monthly rent for a five bedroom house goes for a minimum of Sh150,000 while a six bedroom, ambassadorial residence goes for Sh250,000. Within the same estate, the selling price of a five bedroom ambassadorial residence on 0.6 acres goes for Sh40 million.

Karen

Lying South West of the city centre is Karen, a posh estate that is on the verge of losing its serenity, this according to Rose Wacuka, Communication Officer at Karen Langata District Association (KLDA).

KLDA have in the recent past raised their concerns with the increasing insecurity and the sub-division of land in Karen.

In a recent interview with Home and Away Wacuka said, "KLDA's main concern is the uncontrolled sub-division of land in Karen that has seen the estate lose it serenity, plunged land value and increased insecurity."

A fulfilling view of the Cobble Gardens in the leafy suburb of Karen [Photo: Gilbert Otieno]

She listed Miotoni, Bogani, Karen Plains, Mokoyeti West and Karen Centre as some of the sections in Karen that have recently witnessed uncontrolled developments.

However according to Manjau there are parts of Karen which are still very exclusive areas like Mwitu Estate, Mbungani Road and Karen Road.

Some of the prominent residents of Mwitu Estate are ODM leader Raila Odinga, Raphael Tuju and Githu Muigai, Attorney General.

Kisumu

Elly Ongoma, director of Mambrui Golf Resort Limited, who also worked in a number of developments in Kisumu attributes the increasing interest in properties in Kisumu to the upgrading of the Kisumu International Airport and available market.

"Milimani today is not as plush as it was a few years ago when it was strictly residential, today it is a mix-use area with many flats, hotels and universities setting up base here," he notes.

Some of the houses ready for occupation in Millimani, Kisumu [Photo:Jacob Otieno]

Some of the posh estates in the lake side city include Riat Hills, Milimani Estate, Mountain View and Mamboleo, Kajulu.

Property developers and residents in these areas however, cite poor planning, lack of critical infrastructure such as a sewerage system, bad roads and lack of piped water as some of the major challenges facing the property market in this area.

A five bedroom house, with a six car parking bay on half an acre in Upper Milimani goes for an average of Sh29million.

Mombasa

In the Coastal city Old/New Nyali, Vescom Estate, Tudor 4, Kizingo, Ngajoni and now Chuda are some of the lavish estates.

"In Kizingo one acre of undeveloped land goes for Sh150million while a four bedroom house would fetch Sh120,000 per month as rent," says Duncan Amalemba, a land and real estate agent in Mombasa.

A house in Nyali [Photo: Courtesy]

He attributes the high property prices in Kizongo to the fact that State House Mombasa is stationed in this area.

Despite the fact that the entire Old Nyali lacks piped water, it still emerges as one of the most affluent estates in Mombasa. On Nyali First Avenue a three bedroom villa on 0.75 acres close to the City Mall with a proximity to the beach is going for Sh85million.

Further along on Nyali Central Drive, four bedrooms, all ensuite erected on half an acre complete with a swimming pool rents at Sh180, 000 per month.

Amalemba says developers in New Nyali are now opting to dig boreholes.

Eldoret

In the home of champions, Upper Elgon View Estate is the most affluent neighbourhood. It is positioned South of Eldoret town, a few minutes drive from the central business district (CBD).

Elgon View is zoned and features low-density residential buildings, characterised by  bungalows and maisonettes.Roads leading into the estate are fairly good.

This is home to some of the politicians, athletes, businessmen and religious leaders in Eldoret and the larger North Rift region.

Retired athlete Kipchoge Keino, Vice President William Ruto, James Ole Kiyapi and Chebii Kilimo are some of the prominent personalities with property in Elgon View.

Since 1979, no application for change of user from residential property to commercial has been approved and it will be interesting to note whether this will change.

Rent in Elgon View Estate ranges between Sh20,000 to Sh50,000 a month, depending on the tenant. NGOs, companies and churches pay up to Sh50,000.

An acre of undeveloped land in Upper Elgon View goes for Sh10 million.

In Nakuru, Milimani and Section 58 are the upmarket neighbourhoods.