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By Ferdinand Mwongela
Situated about 30km from Nairobi city and about 15km from Thika town on the Nairobi-Thika Highway, Ruiru is one of the satellite towns that has benefited from its proximity to the city.
It also provides a much-needed alternative and affordable residential area for those who work in and around the city.
The core of Ruiru is off the main road, accessible via a flyover leading from the Nairobi-Thika Highway. The distance and easy accessibility by public transport service providers means that one can easily commute to the city without breaking a sweat.
This small town continues to grow, albeit slowly compared to others like Kitengela, Rongai and Ruai. A post office and the Ruiru County Council are among the main service providers.
Along the main street dividing the town into two, stalls are lined up and it is the first sight that greets you. At a casual glance one might be tempted to dismiss this as a small-time centre. However, the presence of several banks here dispels this and indicates a serious commercial centre. There are old buildings housing initially owned by Indians.
Education belt
The banks present here include the Kenya Commercial Bank, Co-operative and Family bank. Being next to the railway line means Ruiru was one of the early commercial centres, which begs the questions why the town is lagging behind.
This is also the home of the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College, a short distance from the town, as well as Kenyatta University’s satellite campus and Ruiru Campus. Essentially, the town stands in what can be described as an education belt stretching from Nairobi to Thika with Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Mang'u High School and Mt Kenya University among a host of other educational institutions found in this stretch.
Affordable rent
Developers are also putting up premises and hostel-like flats to accommodate students from these institutions. With the ongoing reconstruction of the Nairobi-Thika Highway, property prices around this area are expected to go up drastically. Currently, it is possible to secure a half-acre piece of land in this area from Sh700,000 to Sh900,000 and an acre for anything from Sh3 million. Rental houses are affordable with a single room going for Sh1,500 to Sh2,000 and a one-bedroom at between Sh5,000 and Sh8,000. Two-bedroom houses are also not expensive and range between Sh7,000 to Sh10,000, depending on the distance from the main road.
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