From Happy Valley to sleepy Gilgil

By Ferdinand Mwongela

Gilgil is one of the country’s most fertile areas and in the rainy season, rainfall is almost incessant. At times, cloud-like mists cover the grounds. After the rainfall, Gilgil is scenic and has an appearance of a lush green carpet.

The town is about 25 kilometres from Naivasha and 48 kilometres from Nakuru. It takes about three hours to drive from Nairobi to Gilgil town.

Residential blocks a few metres from the town. Photos: Jenipher Wachie/Standard

The main economic activity here is agriculture and horticulture as it is located in the flower farm belt.

The area also hosts a substantial number of military personnel with the headquarters of the army’s Western Command (Westcom) based here. In addition, two army barracks (Gilgil barracks and Kenyatta barracks) are in the area.

Gilgil is also home to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit. The unit is tasked with checking incidences of cattle rustling that are common in the upper Rift Valley. Also in this hood is the Gilgil war cemetery where soldiers from the first and second world wars are buried.

White settlers

Schools in the area include Pembroke House, Coulson, Utumishi Academy, St Peters Elite, Langa Langa, Rachel Girls and Gilgil High school among others. Some of the schools offer the British curriculum system.

Part of Gilgil forms a chunk of the infamous ‘Happy Valley’ of the 1920s to 1950s that was home to white settlers.

The town lies along the Nairobi-Nakuru railway line. With the added presence of a major highway and several airstrips close by, Gilgil is very accessible.

Another key feature in this town is Gilgil Telecommunications. Ndume Farm Machineries, also prominent in the area, manufactures farm equipment.

Property prices in the area range from Sh500,000 to Sh2 million an acre. Land in drier areas sell for about Sh100,000 per acre. Nonetheless, land sales are low and some farmers are letting out their land for agricultural purposes.