A mirror of modern living

BY ALLAN OLINGO

At the mention of the name Kilimani, a lot of sentiments are evoked. The best of fuel guzzlers in town, plush palatial homes, tranquility and towering lush green foliage hiding the architectural beauty of private homes in this area.

Even though the exclusiveness of this hood still stands, the face of Kilimani is fast changing as bungalows give way to towering concrete beauties.

Kilimani is a convenient prime residential area just about ten minutes away from the city centre with proximity to major shopping centres. These include Yaya Centre, Prestige Plaza, Uchumi hypermarket, Hurlingham shopping centre and Adams Arcade.

As part of its changing face, Kilimani is quickly coming up as a prime commercial zone, offering a unique blend of upper-middle income maisonettes, modern apartments and office blocks mainly housing NGOs and embassies.

Vast amenities

I could not fail to notice the top echelon of prestigious educational institutions while driving within this estate. Such institutions include the French School adjacent to the Yaya Centre, Makini School, Milimani Primary, Kilimani Primary, Braeburn School, the Swedish School on Ngong road, Braeside School and St. Christopher’s School on Kilimani slip road.

Marylyn Musyoki, a resident of Rosewood Court, chose this middle income estate because of its vast amenities and proximity to Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta Hospital and her place of work on Ngong road.

"Though Kilimani is not a gated community, most town houses like the ones I stay in are enclosed with ten to 15 houses in one court," she adds.

Safety

Kilimani is a dynamic, rapidly developing area with a low population density.

Being home to a number of embassies and high commissions, and its proximity to State House, this hood is relatively safe, beefed up with two police stations — Kilimani Police Station on Lenana Road and CID offices on Milimani Road.

Most of the developments in the area don electric fences, alarm systems and guards with constant security company patrols, even though increased carjacking has taken a worrying trend.

The price of land has been escalating fast pushed by rapid developments in the estate. An acre of land is currently retailing between Sh25-45 million.

Kilimani is accessible by public means through Ngong Road and Argwings Kodhek, though the constant traffic build-up is proving to be a headache to the residents.

The prestigious Yaya Centre on Argwings Kodhek is the oldest shopping centre in the area and adds glamour and class to this neighbourhood.