Home to Nakuru’s middle class

By Beatrice Obwocha

Sandwiched between four estates, Langalanga, Phase 1 and 2 and Racetrack, Racecourse is one of the most popular middle class estates in Nakuru town. With storied flats of two or three floors, this estate boasts of well-constructed and not so crowded residential houses. Built in the 1980s, most of the house units — three to six per plot — are either two or three bed-roomed.

Majority are just low house because the Municipal Council discouraged storied buildings due to the soil structure of the area.

A trading centre linking Racecourse with the neighbouring estates. [Photos: Lucas Thuo/ Standard]

"The neighbouring estates are the ones with water problem but houses here have water throughout," says Muchiri.

Drainage is good considering the estate is on a hilly area. All roads in the estate are tarmacked except for a few feeder roads to residential houses.

Racecourse is located next to Lake Nakuru National Park, which is blocked from view by Honeymoon hill. Wild animals do not stray into the estate except for cheeky baboons that jump over the fence.

The baboons do not fear human beings and it is common to find them at St Joseph Catholic Church compound. At times they even invade people’s kitchens.

"We have to close our back doors or else you will find baboons have taken off with your food," Muchiri says.