Pocyline Karani
The long, narrow winding tarmac road sinks into a cushion of forest. Birds chirp, happily inviting the rising sun. Dew drips from the trees’ luscious leaves into the velvety bush beneath, oblivious of the majestic beauty they add to the pristine nature here.
Suddenly, the road dips into a valley, the towering trees besides it following suit. Downhill beneath a bridge, a river with clear banks effortlessly flows. Its waters, though not sparkling clean, glide against the rocks, producing soothing melodies.
This is a stark contrast of the characteristic raucous city, a bare nine kilometres away.
Therapeutic and soothing to the mind, the air breathed here is cool and fresh. At this point, you just want to stop and commune with nature. If you think, this is a description of somewhere in Europe, you are mistaken.
The brown ochre roof complements the meticulously fitted pine wood |
Further on, the road suddenly opens up into a huge chunk of undeveloped land, wrongly signalling an end to civilisation. Sitting in isolation and next to a cross-junction of Peponi and Ngecha roads is a church made from bamboo trees and makuti roof.
"The fertile soil here once grew a large coffee plantation and a flower farm. But not anymore," says an estate agent with Pelly Properties, a property management company.
To my dismay just about 500m past the said junction, the road opens to some sort of vibrancy in form of luxurious and unlimited aristocratic living that fully enjoys the pleasures of this life. Yes, Kihingo Village ushers us into another world.
It is a step back in time to the pristine. The rustic yet modern houses exceed all your demands to offer the epitome of luxury living. The gleaming rich indigenous wood floors and doors give the spacious houses the feeling of being in a giant yacht cabin.
"Kihingo Village aesthetics are developed from the traditional African village setting, which was characterised by rich culture and objectivity. It is the perfect example of a complete living experience whose focus is a place of unlimited freedom while still maintaining uncompromising security and sensitivity to the environment," says Ndung’u Githenji, CEO, Kihingo Holdings.
New concept
It is a high-end residential development similar to the gated communities common in North America and South Africa. The project concept is the first of its kind in East Africa. Located on a site previously planted with 210,000 rose bushes, Phase I of Kihingo Village is appropriately named Waridi (Rose) Gardens.
The homes are fully networked with both cable and wireless Internet, offering residents the opportunity to work from home.
Other facilities include a club with a 24-seater dividable conference room where those working from home can host meetings.
Some of the incomplete houses at Kihingo Village. [PHOTOS: MARTIN MUKANGU/STANDARD |
On visiting Kihingo Village, I realise its website is doing injustice to the entire project! It miserably fails to effectively communicate the actual feelings, emotions and the magnificent beauty this modern village exudes.
A castle-like clubhouse towers at one edge of the village, its domineering presence clearly felt. The cabro-paved paths lead to the house built in a modern yet rustic classical look. To gain access to your house, you can either use the normal door key, swipe a card or just key in your password.
The luxury of the exterior effortlessly flows inside the house with its rich red mahogany wooden floor, inviting you in the foyer. A fireplace contrasts beautifully with the textured and patterned walls, which effortlessly complement the rich green lawn beyond the wall-sized windows.
Security
The windows are security proof with vibration detectors. The rooms are installed with infra-red emitters and the doors are installed with a contact magnet, all to beef up security.
There are no fences between the houses. Instead, a hedge of flowers abstractly lines each compound, giving the illusion of a fence and offering the much desired privacy.
Considering its location, which is surrounded by trees and dams, every room is installed with heating systems.
At Kihingo, you do not have to worry about your 15kg gas supply running out in the middle of cooking. A central gas supply system controlled from the clubhouse is routed to the house where consumption is metered and paid monthly.
The cost of the three types of houses — the five-bedroom, the four-bedroom large and four-bedroom small, all en-suites — ranges between Sh120 million to Sh72 million. A monthly service fee of Sh27,000 is charged.
"To rent a house here will cost you between US$4,500-6,000 (Sh520,000) a month depending on the size of the house," reveals an official residing here," said the management at Kihingo Holdings.
All the 55 houses built in the first phase will be ready for occupation in the next few months.
Nestled next to it is Magnolia Hills, one of the many new luxury gated estates in Kitisuru. From the moment I walk past the two heavy metallic gates, the second one remote controlled, I instantly realise this is a special place. It is not just a home. It is luxurious.
Purple flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges line the walkway. Private recreational facilities include a business centre, steam and sauna, gym, jogging track, Olympic-size swimming pool and sun terrace.
A true escape hatch to paradise, Magnolia Hills boasts of modern double storey buildings in Italianate style with windows from the ground all the way up next to the roof, allowing residents a view of the magnificent beauty of the surrounding homes.
This development clearly speaks volumes of its intention to delight the senses of the residents. A feeling of home, only happier because of the daily extravagance it offers, engulfs you.
To own a piece in this dream location, an eight-figure investment is what you have to part with. A four-bedroom, all en suite house with a separate pantry, laundry and an indoor lap pool sells for Sh55 million.
Further North of Nairobi stands another mind-blowing development, the Windsor Golf Park, a countryside gated community of fully serviced and furnished luxury homes, overlooking a premier golf resort. The development is so exotic that it is said one can actually tee from their balcony.
