By Philip Mwakio

Nestled a stone throw away from the cool breeze blowing off the Indian Ocean is Kizingo, a wealthy suburb that is home to some of Mombasa’s well heeled characters. The place is a mixture of residential and office buildings.

Kenya’s second largest State House and several government offices including the Coast Provincial Headquarters and the official residence of the Coast Provincial Commissioner are found in Kizingo. For this reason, public transport is non-existent, but the arrival of tuk tuks and boda bodas has made it easier for the residents to move from one part of this secluded area to the other with much ease.

Rich past

Unique architecture has always characterised this Mombasa neighbourhood. At the moment, Kizingo is undergoing an expansion of culture, arts, retail businesses and food courts.

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Highrise residential structures uncommon in the past are fast becoming the order of the day in this area.

A three-bedroom house here fetches Sh40,000 while a two-bedroom house goes for between Sh30,000 and 35,000 a month.

It has a rich historical past in that the British colonial government once had a presence in the area after establishing an army garrison, which was later converted to Mombasa Primary School.

A view of several commercial and residential houses in Kizingo. Notice the white-washed walls. [PHOTOS: PHILIP MWAKIO]

Call it the Kizingo revival where a combination of factors — namely people and persistence — have come together to catapult this once-chequered area into one of the most attractive, affordable and interesting urban neighbourhoods within Mombasa ‘s Central Business District.

For the affluent seeking a posh residential area, Kizingo is the place to start. There are well-tarmacked roads within this area, most of which are narrow and paved leading to the houses. Given the number of government offices here the security of the area is well assured.

Mansions, bungalows, town houses and old wooden homes dot the vicinity including the Mombasa Light House, which guides vessels on sea to shore.

An impressive attraction here is the gated residence where high-rise flats have replaced the classical old colonial buildings common in other areas of Coast Province.

Three of the largest well-equipped private hospitals, Pandya Memorial Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital and the Mombasa Hospital are located in Kizingo.

Some of the best private and public schools dot the locality, which is also not very far from the Nakumatt Likoni branch.

Fancy feel

Real estate expert, Ben Onyango of Ocean Properties, says the cost of house here range from Sh7.5 million to Sh15million for a single unit.

He says it is an upmarket area devoid of traffic jams like Nyali on the mainland North.

"The area has always had a fancy feel," says Onyango.

For those seeking to indulge in a night out of wining and dining, the popular Florida Night Club is a stone throw away from Kizingo on the long beach stretch along the scenic Mama Ngina drive.