By Boniface Thuku
About 20 years ago, Kiti Estate also known as Teachers within Nakuru suburbs was made up of green lush vegetation full of shrubs and even some agricultural activities were carried within.
But the estate has lately opened up for development with construction of residential and rental houses coming up fast.
The estate is named after a Government institute known as Kenya Industrial Training Institute (Kiti) and its lower part known as Teachers; named so after a group of teachers who combined their efforts in early 1990s and purchased the land and later subdivided it into plots.
The estate, located some five kilometres from Nakuru town on Nyahururu Road, is sandwiched between Menengai crater on the upper side and Hyrax Hills on the lower side. The estate’s population density is relatively increasing due to the influx of residents, some who thronged the area after the post-election violence.
According to Anthony Muchiri, a resident of the estate for about 15 years, there has been lots of construction in the estate lately.
Muchiri says that small-scale farmers who used to do subsistence farming in the area have resorted to real estate investments.
High demand
He notes that the demand for rental units has shot up by more than 100 per cent in the last five years making the construction business a gold mine for the investors.
“Besides being a solution to the high demand of houses and giving good returns to the investors, the estate gives our town an appealing look hence attracting more investors, which is positive for our economy,” he adds.
Muchiri?says that back in 1990s, a plot measuring 50 by 100ft was going for Sh50,000 but currently the minimum cost is around Sh1.5 million depending with the location.
?A single rental room is going for Sh2,500, one bedroom is Sh5,500 and a bed-sitter is going for between Sh3,500 to Sh4,000.
