Changing face of Kiambu Road

Not too long ago,  driving along the stretch of Kiambu Road past Muthaiga up to Kiambu Town gave one a feeling of travelling to some rural village.

The road was lined with shrubs on both sides  and homes few and far between.

But the scenery has changed drastically in the  past few years, thanks to a construction boom. Investors are scrambling for any available space to set up temporary or permanent businesses along the road as they seek to make the most of the area’s   increasing population.

The early investors  have already put up shopping malls, motor dealerships, entertainment spot, hospitals and other services targeting the middle and upper classes, with many more under construction. 

Recently, businessman and politician Stanley Githunguri set up a mega shopping mall at Ridgeways, which brings together different businesses under the same roof.

GATED COMMUNITIES

Ridgeways Mall hosts, among other businesses, a Nakumatt supermarket branch, a Galito’s fast-food joint, and a high-class bar called Scotches, all of which attract  huge numbers of shoppers.

Across the road is a proposed facility that is expected to host an Uchumi supermarket. Meanwhile Ferruzi Mall  is under construction in  Thindigua.

Land in the area is in high demand, and the increase in population has seen what were previously farmland being turned into  concrete jungles.

Most of the housing units comprise apartments, both for sale and to let.  Developers have been putting up gated communities, some of which comprise more than 100 units.

Besides Runda and Ridgways estates,  more have been coming up, creating a demand for a variety of services.

Among the newer estates is EdenVille, which sits on an estimated 150-acre piece of land and comprises  two-, three-, and four-bedroom maisonettes.

Then there’s  Five Star Estate, which is about a kilometre from Kiambu Town; Runda Paradise, which comprises 150 maisonettes, and Kasarani.

Also along the road is Fourways Junction, a project being undertaken by Suraya Properties.

For a long time people living  between Muthaiga and Kiambu had to do their shopping in Nairobi , Village Market, Thika Road or Kiambu Town.

However, the linking of Kiambu Road with Ruaka, a fast-growing suburb through the northern bypass, has seen services brought closer to the people.   

“The fact that there are many people living along the road and in its vicinity has created a huge demand for such facilities and as always, investors  are taking advantage of that to put up supermarkets, and other outlets,” says Ms Joyce Wanjira, a marketing consultant.

The influx of upper-class people to the area has attracted at least eight motor vehicle dealers, who are giving stiff competition to Kiambu Road Motor dealers and Specs Dealers, previously the only two in the area.

The car outlets, some  of which have branches along the road, sell a variety of cars, including top-of-the range vehicles, an indication that they have a wide  range of clientèle.

PALATIAL HOMES

“We have  customers from other areas but we get a huge number from people living around (Kiambu Road and other parts of Kiambu county),” said an employee at Windsor Motors who requested anonymity since he is not authorised to talk on behalf of the company.

The entertainment sector has  also seen a boom. Among the new joints are Aladdin Gourmet Restaurant, Ridgeways Inn and Club Sidai Oleng,

“Many people here have money to spend but for long there were no  good joints around. We had to go to Nairobi because not even Kiambu Town has good places to hang out,” said Mr Simon Ndichu, who lives in  Kiambu Town.

Previously, locals had to  make do with Rock City Gardens, Walkabout and Sparks Palace Resort, or seek alternatives in the city.

The premises hosting Ridgeways Inn and Ridgeview, which are situated near Runda, were previously palatial residential homes and only underwent minor rehabilitation to become entertainment joints.

The northern bypass also offers varieties such Herisquare Lounge, which has a parking lot  that can accommodate nearly 400 cars, plus  a number of joints  collectively referred to as “bypass”.

The joints are always fully packed in the evenings and on weekends, an indication of the high demand for such facilities.