East Africa's most cosmopolitan city, Nairobi is Kenya's beating heart, an exciting, maddening concrete jungle that jarringly counterpoints the untrammelled natural beauty to be found elsewhere in the country. Nairobi has experienced one of the highest growth rates of any city in Africa.
Since its foundation in 1899, Nairobi has grown to become the second largest city in the African Great Lakes, despite being one of youngest cities in the region. The growth rate of Nairobi is 4.1% a year. It is estimated that Nairobi's population will reach 5 million in 2025.
Nairobi's skyline reflects its rapid growth and urbanization.
Nairobi is divided into a series of constituencies with each being represented by members of Parliament in the National Assembly. These constituencies are: Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe, Langata, Dagoretti, Westlands, Kasarani, and Embakasi.
The main administrative divisions of Nairobi are Central, Dagoretti, Embakasi, Kasarani, Kibera, Makadara, Pumwani, and Westlands. Most of the upmarket suburbs are situated to the west and north-central of Nairobi, where most European settlers resided during the colonial times AKA 'Ubabini'. These include Karen, Langata, Lavington, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Brookside, Spring Valley, Loresho, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Hurlingham, Runda, Kitisuru, Nyari, Kyuna, Lower Kabete, Westlands, and Highridge, although Kangemi, Kawangware, and Dagoretti are lower income areas close to these affluent suburbs.
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Nairobi was founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. The town quickly grew to replace Mombasa as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya.
During Kenya's colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony's coffee, tea and sisal industry. The city lies in the south central part of Kenya, at an elevation of 1,795 metres (5,889 ft). Home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is one of the largest in Africa and the second-oldest exchange on the continent.
It is Africa's fourth-largest exchange in terms of trading volume, capable of making 10 million trades a day.
Kasarani Constituency is an electoral constituency in Nairobi. It is one of seventeen constituencies of Nairobi City County. The entire constituency is located within Nairobi City County. It has an area of 152.60 km2 (58.9 sq mi), making it the second-largest constituency in Nairobi after Lang'ata. The constituency was known as Nairobi Northeast Constituency at the 1963 elections and as Mathare Constituency from 1966 elections to 1994 by-elections. Up until the 2007 elections it has been known as Kasarani Constituency.
One-party system. By-elections. The sub-county shares the same boundaries with what was known as Kasarani Division.
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Areas such as Njiru, Ruai and Kamulu are in Njiru Sub-county. The whole of Roysambu, Ruaraka, and part of Embakasi North constituencies are within the Kasarani sub-county.
Kasarani is a mixed-use neighbourhood in northeast Nairobi and a suburb in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. It is located along the Nairobi-Thika Road. The town came up in the early 1950s to solve the housing shortage problem in Nairobi.
Kasarani is also used in reference to the city's second most populated sub-county with the same name, encompassing various neighbourhoods in the northeastern areas of Nairobi. The greater Kasarani area has other suburbs domiciled within it and shares common boundaries with what was known as Kasarani Division prior to 2013.
The immediate former member of parliament of Kasarani Constituency is Hon.
If you are in Nairobi town you will board a matatu or bus route number 17B at Kenya Bus Station or outside BS near St Peter Claviers Church.
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Key Landmarks and Institutions
Kasarani is home to several notable landmarks and institutions:
- Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani Stadium): Named after former President Daniel arap Moi, this stadium is used by the Harambee Stars for international matches and is the home stadium of Mathare United and Tusker F.C.
Moi International Sports Centre, a central landmark in Kasarani.
- Educational Institutions: Kasarani is home to the USIU Africa and Pan African Christian University campuses, Kasarani Technical and Vocational College in Kamulu, Ruai, Jalyn Junior Academy and Kasarani Group of Schools.
- Hotels: The Sport view Hotel and Safari Park Hotel are also located here.
Education in Kasarani
Kasarani is home to some of the best-performing schools in Nairobi. There are all sorts of schools here. From low class, middle class to high-end, you will find all of them here. Kasarani Groups of schools entails Kasarani Junior School, Kasarani Academy Senior School, Special Unit, and Cradle section.
Kenya Film School is located next to Nyayo International Sports Centre.
Healthcare
St Francis Community Hospital is a level 5 hospital referral and teaching hospital.
Recreation
It is important for all of us to have a place to go and be active. That is why Kasarani, just like any other residential area, has recreational spots.
- Nyayo International Sports Centre is a multi-purpose stadium situated off Thika Road, Kasarani.
- SportView Hotel is situated along Icipe Road off Thika Road.
Shopping Centers
Whether you are moving to Sports view Estate Kasarani or any other place, you will have access to major shopping centres.
- Garden City Mall is a mixed development integrated with residential, retail, and office spaces.
- Thika Road Mall has over 100 outlets featuring the best of Kenya’s entertainment, banking, shopping, and eating places.
Religious Centers and Banks
The area has a number of religious centres. Nearly every street corner has a church. Just like any other town in Kenya, Kasarani is the home to numerous banks. These banks help residents access financial services with ease.
Housing and Rental Prices
Nothing is more exciting than living in the same neighbourhood where you work. Rental prices in Kasarani differ depending on how close the unit is to Thika Road. Those near the superhighway are priced relatively higher than those located far away.
Here’s a general overview of rental prices:
- Singles: From Ksh.
- Bedsitters: From Ksh.
- One bedroom: From Ksh.
- Two bedrooms: From Ksh.
- Three bedrooms: From Ksh.
- Four bedrooms: From Ksh.
Kasarani is the best suburb to live in if you are working in Nairobi and its environs. Are you planning to move to Kasarani Neighborhood? If so, then we can simplify help you with your house hunt journey.
One such estate that is fast attracting Nairobi’s young is Kasarani. The early parts of the estate sit on the ribs of the Thika Superhighway - which conveniently links the estate to Nairobi Central Business District.
Thika Superhighway, providing easy access to Kasarani.
“I can come here any time because it is very safe. I don’t even have to take a motorbike to move from the bus stop to my house,” says Penninah Njeri.
Njeri just recently relocated to Kasarani from Eastleigh. “Kasarani estate is very safe, and life is cheaper compared to the neighbouring Roysambu and Mirema, where prices of houses have shot due to arrival of many foreigners and students attending nearby universities,” says Njeri. A one-bedroom house costs between Ksh12,000 and ksh20,000 in Kasarani. The prices of houses get cheaper as you move deeper towards the direction of Mwiki.
Other estates within Kasarani that are attracting attention are Seasons, Equity, Clay City, Car Wash, and PCEA. There are also a cocktail of joints and restaurants along Thika Road, where a lot of fun happen during weekends and most nights - something the young generation love.
Most of these young people are into the Digital economy - especially given that jobs are hard to find in this country. They create content; taking pictures and shooting videos which they upload on their social media platforms. Others are into cryptocurrency and forex trade - while some are into academic writing.
Many say that old estates like Ngomongo, Kayole, Dandora, Kariobangi, Kariadudu and Makadara served their grandfathers well, but this is a new era.
Origin of the Name "Kasarani"
Gatharani, a Kikuyu word, is a type of grass used in traditional weaving. The adage has it that the area where Kasarani estate sits today had a lot of Gatharani grass. It is from this that Kasarani reportedly got its name - as mzungu struggled to pronounce the word ‘Gatharani’.
Yet, another school of thought indicates that the area at some point housed the colonial 'Castle Army'. And so - good Kenyans who had trouble pronouncing the word ‘Castle Army’ decided to call it ‘Kasarani’. The jury is still out on the origin of the word.
Kasarani Today
Many decades later - Kasarani has grown by leaps and bounds. Today it is attracting thousands of Kenya’s young adults. ‘Kasa’, as it is popularly known, sits right on the shoulders of the populous Githurai estates. Approximately 60 percent of Nairobi population live in informal settlements - that’s according to the 2019 Census.
The current Nairobi’s young adults; Gen Zs born between 1997 and 2012 are just now joining the hunt for good housing. These young men and women have taken over the city from their grandfathers, who have since left the city and retired to the villages.
This young generation is defining living in a totally different manner - different from what their grandfathers and fathers considered when picking a house to live in Nairobi, like proximity to a hospital, a school or a church.
The young adult in Nairobi is today looking for fun - and more fun. Not those ‘boring’ communal housing schemes. “Most of us want affordable, quality houses. We just want our space,” says 24-year-old Janet Mweu.
Janet says that the young man and woman in Nairobi is mostly single -- and only looking to have fun while trying to make a living in a tough economic environment.
Many say they cannot afford rent and life in a number of estates. Estates like Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lang’ata, Thika Road, Kiambu road are home to millennials, people who are now sitting firmly on the middle-class table. These estates are not cheap.
The Gen Z cannot afford rent in such expensive neighbourhoods since they are just now settling down - at a time when jobs are few.
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