Is Nairobi becoming a five-star city?

I love visiting five-star and zero-star hotels. You get great insights into Kenyans' economic life. A cup of tea made with the same milk and tea leaves will cost Sh100 in a cafe across the street and Sh500 in a five-star hotel. That leaves many ordinary Kenyans visiting five-star hotels only during seminars, adding to their mysticism.

Enough on five-star hotels. Is Nairobi slowly becoming a five-star city, out of reach for ordinary Kenyans? It has better roads, power connections, water, schools, universities (too few!), offices and more profits if you run a business. It is the seat of the national government, the capital. Who cares about the capitals of counties - some still contested?

Prices keep us off five-star hotels. We keep hoping that once we make enough money, we shall get there. Few make it. The few who make it feel good, they went through the life lottery.

The prices in Nairobi make it a five-star city. Whether it's rent, food or other necessities, it’s expensive. The prestige that goes with living in the city adds to its five-star status. There is some status that goes with living in Nairobi - it does not matter if it’s Muthaiga or Kawangware.

One Nairobi city town clerk told us Nairobi is for whiskey, not chang’aa takers. Was he that prophetic?

The city is going through an urban renewal that is raising its profile and stars. But it is 'chasing away' low-income earners to the outskirts or counties. A few are going abroad, and are being replaced by high-income earners from all over the world.

Think of Pangani, which was for low-income earners. It has gone through gentrification and new renters have higher incomes. That is happening in lots of other older estates.  Old houses are torn down and replaced with multi-storied buildings. Even the once-green Lavington and Kilimani are now competitors to Githurai or Mlolongo.

Old parts of the city centre are also going through renewal. Visit River Road or Kirinyaga Road. The industrial area is going through renewal too with office buildings. Visit slum areas like Kibra and see the renewal. The outskirts of Nairobi such as Githurai, Kikuyu, Ruaka, Ruiru, and Rongai are going through urban renewal too with taller buildings. And supermarkets are noticing.

The CBD is hard to renew because of concrete structures, built to last and hard to reconfigure for other businesses. What is the alternative use for Hilton and Intercon hotels? Unless we demolish old buildings in the city centre, and laws allow, the CBD will keep losing customers.

Its old and classic buildings should become tourist attractions. I really loved one historical building on Kenyatta Avenue that was once a bank and is now a high-end restaurant.

On greening, Nairobi is not five-star. We need more parks and open spaces. Is affordable housing looking at that? The benchmark for our housing is Singapore, with lots of greenery and higher life expectancy.

As Nairobi becomes five-star, many are asking where the money is coming from. There is a big contrast between economic activities in Nairobi compared in other counties. Money comes from everywhere - counties, abroad, both legitimate and illegitimate money.

Higher returns for real estate and other investments attract more money to cities. I suspect a deep analysis on the sources of money renewing Nairobi would turn into a blockbuster movie.

Those leaving the city will try their luck in the counties or on the outskirts. And normally return to the city when they make money, leaving chang’aa for whiskey. I hope adjoining counties are happy to host economic refugees from Nairobi; think of Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Muranga.

Have the new roads like Thika highway and bypasses made it easier to get out of the city - and return? Will these counties benefit from reverse brain drain?

The next Nairobi will be richer, and more diverse with an influx from counties and other countries, both neighbouring and far.  Did you check the name of the young man who recently cut your hair, made your nails and cleaned your car in Nairobi? They are from which countries? 

Nairobi's status has risen to the level of importing labour. That will catalyse its growth. It will become more competitive like any other bigger city, from London to New York or Shanghai.

It seems the invisible hand of capitalism will change Nairobi, giving it new owners. Will this invisible hand get a helping hand from politics? How long have you been in the capital city? Noted the patterns we have observed?