Chaka property boom gathers pace as investors eye Nyeri's next investment hub

Plots at Famyard Estate Lane 15 in Chaka, Nyeri County, where demand for land is rising as the town expands into an emerging investment hub. [Amos Kiarie]

Chaka is emerging as a new investment frontier in Nyeri County, as rising demand for land, new housing developments and planned infrastructure improvements continue to reshape the once-small roadside trading centre.

The town’s expansion is being driven by its strategic position along the Great North Corridor, relatively affordable land and growing demand for housing, while plans for better roads, drainage, street lighting and other urban services are expected to support its transition into a more structured urban centre.

The changing character of Chaka is already evident in the spread of homes, businesses and residential estates beyond the original trading centre.

For residents who have witnessed the town’s growth over several decades, the transformation has been significant.

Waithaka Ndumbi, a resident who has witnessed the evolution of Chaka, said it had expanded considerably from the small trading centre he knew, with previously sparsely developed areas now occupied by homes and businesses.

“Chaka started as a small town, but it has now expanded massively,” Ndumbi says.

He notes that the growing population has changed the character of the area, creating a higher demand for businesses and services.

The town’s municipality status has also raised expectations among residents for improved urban services, particularly roads, drainage and waste management.

“When a town grows this fast, the infrastructure has to grow with it. We want to see better roads, drainage and services so that development does not become a problem for the people living here,” he said.

Even though the residents are open to new investors, Ndumbi says the expansion needs to be guided by proper planning to protect the environment and maintain the town’s character.

“We are happy to see Chaka grow because it brings businesses and opportunities, but we also need proper planning so that the town remains clean and organised,” he said.

Chaka Senior Chief Joseph Mwangi says improved security has also contributed to growing confidence in the area. “I came here in 1997, and since then I can tell this place has grown. Security has also improved; we now have a police station,” Mwangi notes.

The growth has coincided with a change in the type of residential developments being introduced around Chaka, with developers increasingly targeting buyers seeking planned estates outside established urban centres.

Famyard Enterprises Limited CEO George Ndumia Wamariu and former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joseph Mucheru issue title deeds to beneficiaries during the launch of Famyard Estate Lane 15 in Chaka, Nyeri County. [Amos Kiarie]

For former Cabinet Secretary Joseph Mucheru, who is also a resident of Chaka, the town’s growth provides an opportunity to develop an urban centre that offers an alternative to the congestion and high property costs of Nairobi.

Mucheru says the area still has considerable room for expansion because land remained relatively affordable compared with other urban centres.

“There is room for expansion. Nairobi is still expensive, but here in Chaka land is very affordable,” Mucheru says.

He said the opportunity goes beyond putting up buildings, arguing that Chaka could develop a diversified economy built around agriculture, tourism and technology.

Mucheru notes that the area’s relatively clean air and quieter environment could become part of its appeal as more people seek alternatives to congested cities.

He points out Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) as an important asset, particularly because of its growing work in technology and artificial intelligence.

“We can use technology to develop tourism, conserve our environment and create new experiences for visitors. With the technology coming from DeKUT, this area can develop tourism products that can attract people to Nyeri and the wider region,” Mucheru points out.

According to him, technology could also support conservation by helping identify and monitor bird species and other wildlife, creating new opportunities for eco-tourism.

The presence of Nyaribu Airstrip, he added, could further support connectivity and economic activity as the area develops.

Chaka’s location along the Great North Corridor also gives it potential to benefit from the movement of people and goods between different parts of the region.

“Chaka can look like California because it has all the pillars found in California - agriculture, tourism and technology,” he says.

George Ndumia Wamariu, director of Famyard Enterprises Ltd says changing buyer preferences had encouraged the company to develop projects such as Chaka Ranch Homes.

He said demand was growing for gated communities offering organised neighbourhoods, security and shared amenities, particularly among middle-income buyers priced out of comparable developments in Nairobi.

“What we are seeing is a clear demand for estate living, but Nairobi has become unaffordable for many middle-income buyers,” Wamariu said.

He said the concept was aimed at bringing planned estate living closer to buyers in the Mt Kenya region.

“The idea is to bring a controlled, well-planned estate concept closer to buyers in this region while still offering affordability, security and space,” he said.

Wamariu says buyers are increasingly considering the environment and services surrounding a property rather than focusing only on the size and price of a plot.

“People are looking at the environment they will live in, the services available and what the development will look like in the future,” he quips.

Wamariu notes the bypass was opening up areas beyond the traditional commercial centre, creating opportunities for residential and other developments.

“We want to bring the living in Nairobi to Chaka."

However, Wamariu acknowledges that private investment would need to be matched by public infrastructure as the town expands. Improvement of the sewerage system, feeder roads and other municipal services, he says, would be critical to sustaining the growth.

The push for improved infrastructure is already featuring in plans for Chaka’s urban development.

Through the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), proposals have been made for cabro paving, storm-water drainage and street lighting.

The World Bank-funded programme seeks to strengthen urban institutions and improve infrastructure and service delivery through collaboration between national and county governments, development partners and the private sector.

The proposed works are expected to improve mobility, address drainage challenges and enhance the urban environment. They are also expected to complement the Chaka Town Urban Development Plan covering the 2020–2030 period.

The plan is intended to guide land use, infrastructure expansion and sustainable urban growth as Chaka develops into a more structured urban centre.

The plan has undergone stakeholder validation by the Nyeri County Government through the Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development.

It provides for improved social amenities and public facilities, expansion of health facilities, better transport networks and stronger solid waste management.

During the stakeholder validation meeting, County Executive Committee Member for Lands Ndirangu Gachunia said public participation was critical in determining the future direction of Chaka.

He says the plan would provide a spatial framework for social, economic and environmental sustainability.