wukan,
Did he crush your ngara bedsitter dreams?
Nairobi today is like Detroit in 1950. The rush to the gated communities in the burbs is on!! Zubaa at your own risk.

The writer above is writing from a retirees perspective and with that premise, his assertions are right.

BUT, there is a big BUT, the average Kenyan is below 25 years old and these are the drivers of the economy and these are not going to DC anytime soon and a good percentage of them will make good money to continue pushing the economy of Nairobi's inner city to new heights.

Last I checked Kenya's life expectancy was around 60 years or less. So, better target the younger ones of us if you want growth, even banks, telecoms, e.t.c know this

One of the ironies of the Nairobi property market is the rapid rise of Kitengela township while its neighbour Athi River foundered. For starters, Athi River is one of Kenya's oldest towns. Founded in the colonial period, it was home to the Kenya Meat Commission and a host of other manufacturing companies for decades. The town also sits on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

But those who have known and lived in Athi River marvel at the fast rise of Kitengela town. Though Athi River had a population of 139,380 people - more than double the 58,167 of Kitengela - in the 2009 census, that's perhaps the only measure by which it towers above its southern neighbour, which started only in 1988.

Athi River has a geographical area of 6,930ha, which pales in comparison to Kitengela's 18,292ha. Athi River is renowned for its polluted waters, unplanned development, encroachment by unscrupulous investors on riparian lands and yawnin lack of social amenities. Kitengela, on the other hand, is supremely gifted with all these.

For Athi River residents, a stark reminder that their town is stuck in a time rut comes every weekend as they see fleets of cars cruising out of Nairobi making their way to 'Kite' which is famous for its nyama choma joints. The first thing which captures your attention as you approach Kitengela is the construction boom. Each day, a new building is completed as the foundation of another is dug elsewhere.

The town boats numerous educational institutions, including the main campuses of KCA University, the East African University and Umma University as well as middle level colleges like Path Institute and Riccati Business College, among others. Primary and secondary schools are too many to enumerate, including high-cost ones offering international curriculums. Athi River has no colleges to write about.

Supermarkets in Kitengela are thriving, given the huge purchasing power of the residents. Famous brands like EastMatt Supermarket, Acacia Supermarket and Naivas have all pitched tent in the town. Naivas just recently re-opened their branch at the new Mega Kitengela Mall. While both Both Kitengela and Athi River are located in dry lands, stymieing agricultural development, Kite does have many small-scale urban farmers.

So, what explains Kitengela's fortunes? It's worth noting that the town began with the subdivision of the Kitengela Group Ranch, made up of 18,292ha, in 1988 in efforts by the government to encourage private land ownership. This was done with the goal to intensify and commercialise livestock production. Early beneficiaries of the subdivision, just 6,548 residents in 1989 census, quickly developed the town, resulting in its quick population growth.

During the country's economic boom in the early 2000s, as the dream to own a home drove Nairobi's middle-class into areas once shunned by many, Kitengela experienced an unprecedented property boom. Alex Muema, Managing Director of Ndatani Enterprises Limited, said Kitengela is preferred because of good transport and weather.

The same did not apply for Athi River, which, with its many manufacturing plants, attracted only the semi-skilled labour force. Without commensurate investment in social services, Athi River began to decline, leading even its affluent workers to relocate to Kite.

Compared to other young suburbs of Nairobi, Kitengela is home to many famous Kenyans. The late Internal Security Minister George Saitoti owned one of the largest business centers in the town, where Kenya Commercial Bank is one of the main tenants.

John Munyes, the former Turkana Senator and current cabinet secretary for mining, also owns a residential mansion house in Kitengela, as does journalist Yvonne Okwara.

@mugundaman, sometimes you come across as a veteran of kitengela, then when you enthusiastically share the above article written by an MKU student, I get my doubts.

The author has no idea what he is talking about, which is understandable considering their age.

About 3 families own all the prime land in athi river. They don't sell. The ndeti family's holding is close to 1,000 acres. Kitengela on the other hand always has prime properties for sale. The nonkopir side even today is virtually undeveloped. And we are talking 500M-1KM from namanga road.

There is zero planning in athi river. You will find a beautiful mansion next to a massive factory.
Because of the above problem, there is crazy pollution in athi river.

While kitengela titles are freehold, in athi river they are leasehold properties.
On top of all these problems, saitoti pulled a smart move that pushed kitengela miles ahead. The EPZ is in athi river and machakos administratively but the main entrance is on the kitengela side. Saitoti even managed to get the EPZ to share its water with residents of kitengela. Around the year 2005, EPZ had 20,000 employees.

There is an exception though. There is an area called embakasi in athi river. These are the people moved by mzee kenyatta from embakasi to pave way for JKIA. The area has the cleanest titles. Another place is the senior staff estate at the interchange. I would choose this place anyday over kitengela. Sewer line, clean water, organised estate.

An individual's housing needs changes over time. Thus:

-College student - bedsitter
-Employed single person - 1 bedroom flat
-Married couple without children - 1 bedroom flat
-married with 1 small kid and house girl - 2 bedroom flat
-married with 1 big kid and house girl - 3 bedroom flat
-married with 2 kids & house girl - 3 bdrm flat or maisonette
-married with 2 or 3 teenagers and H/girl - 4 bdrm maisonette + servants quarter
-Retired couple - maisonette + servants quarter

Therefore as one can see above as the family grows they will need to move from communal housing (flats) to private housing (maisonette) and the sooner they work on getting one the better. And with no affordable maisonettes within the city, dustbowl is the future.

Also as a man there is no greater joy than having your own house and compound to raise your family. A place where you can also host friends and relatives and kula mbuzi and enjoy muratina under a tree hapo inje.

The author needs to travel HongKong, Singapore, China. It will change his perspective on how the future will be.

Jana on my way to Kiserian I used the Karen - Ngong - Matasia route... Seems like the road is being dualled after Ngong going to Kiserian...

Hongkong and singapore are tiny islands with no land to expand to thus the high rise apartments. Nairobi is different coz it has lots of neighbouring lands especially dustbowl and kiambu coffee farms to expand to.

Also you cant compare the filthy kirinyaga rd and grogon to hongkong. How can someone even live in that garbage and chokora infested kirinyaga rd? How do you and your kids and wife get home from work and school?

Mimi iko Nairobi kusomesha watoto nikitafuta pesa, nikimalisana na hayo, I relocate back to ingo where the future of Kenya lies