Kinoo’s leap of growth into a modern village

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 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.