A recent graduate or an individual planning to migrate to Nairobi will never lack a place to start life, there are plenty of apartments to start life in. Such estates are cheap, they have sufficient water, enough security and convenient for commuting to your work place. But you should not expect to live in bungalows or mansionates. Bungalows are in rich estates like Runda,Muthaiga and Karen where rent is Ksh 180,000 to Ksh 400,000 per month.
Don’t settle in areas where rent is high, or where it’s expensive to commute to Nairobi CBD or to your work place.
Here is a list of estates to start life in Nairobi:
- Pipeline
Pipeline is an expansive estate, it covers the entire Embakasi, Kware,Tassia,Imara and Mukuru.The estate hosts more than 300,000 people—it’s the most populous estate in Narobi. Here rent is cheap, you will get single rooms, bedsitters, one bedroom and two bedrooms for rent. All the houses in Pipeline are apartments, some as high as 10 floors.
To rent a single room, you need Ksh 2,000 to Kh5, 000 per month,a bedsitter costs Ksh 5,000 to Ksh10,000 monthly, one bedroom goes for Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 15,000 while the rent for two bedrooms is from Ksh15,000 to Ksh 21,000.
One thing you’ll admire about pipeline is that most houses have DSTV and plenty of water—they have drilled boreholes. There is also enough security in the estate. At Pipeline you can walk any time of the night without fearing of being attacked by thugs.
While living in Pipeline, you’ll use Jogoo Road or Mombasa Road to access Nairobi CBD
Pipeline is dominated by Kamba and Kisiis.
- Umoja
Another good estates to start life in Nairobi is Umoja.Most bachelors live in Umoja.The estate is ideal for people using Jogoo Road.Umoja is where Mama Lucy Hospital is located, it’s also home to Naivas and Quckmart Supermarkets. Rent in the apartments go for Ksh 7,000 per bedsitter, Ksh 12,000 for one bedroom and Ksh 18,000 for two bedroom.
When starting life in Umoja, a bedsitter is ideal for you—unless you have a big family.
- Kayole
Life in Kayole is cheaper than Umoja.To reach Kayole, you pass through Umoja.Here you will get a single room for Ksh2,500 per month.
Most people who come from poor background start their life in Kayole because they can afford rent.
In this place, you will get one bedroom house for Ksh 6,000.Two bedroom can cost as low as ksh 10,000.
Kayole used to be dangerous to live but over time, thugs have been eliminated. It’s safe to live here nowadays.
- Rongai
Rongai is a good estate to live when you work around Bomas,Karen or along Langata Road.Houses in Rongai are not expensive and they very decent. One discouraging thing about this estate is that getting to Nairobi CBD is expensive, you will spend Ksh 200 to Ksh 250 per day on transport.But since you are just starting life and not commuting to Nairobi CBD daily, you can opt to settle in Rongai.
A bedsitter in Rongai costs Ksh 6,000 to Ksh 9,000 per month. Rent for one bedroom house is Ksh 8,000 to Ksh 15,000 while two bedroom house rent goes for Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 25,000.
It’s very easy to get a vacant apartment in Rongai, people have invested heavily to provide cheap accommodation.
- Ngong
Ngong is a place you will love to stay, it’s serene with modern apartments which are reasonably cheap. There are plenty of bedsitters for bachelors and one bedroom houses for those with families—you can even find a 3 bedroom house, but rate because the demand for them is low. Apartments go for Ksh 5,500 to Ksh 10,000 per bedsitter, Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 20,000 for one bedroom and at least Ksh18,000 for two bedrooms.
Most people living in Ngong commute through Ngong Road.A number of them work along Ngong Road.
- Utawala
Utawala is one of the cheapest estates to live in Nairobi, it’s also a modern estate. Rent for any house here is cheap—bachelors and jobless youths ni wengi huku.You can get a bedsitter for Ksh 5,000 only and one bedroom for Ksh 7,000 per month. Even if you don’t have a job, you will not struggle much because even food is cheap.
Utawala is past pipeline Estate along Eastern bypass, it’s just next to JKIA.Utawala Army Barracks is also located here.
Even when starting life, you can still live here comfortably like you have been in Nairobi for decades—the environment is good for families
- Kitengela
Kitengela is quite far from Nairobi CBD but since the Expressway was built, accessing CBD nowadays is easy. There are very cheap apartments in Kitengela some costing as low as Ksh 5,000 per bedsitter. There are also houses with many single rooms for bachelors starting life.
If you are still jobless, I would recommend Kitengela because it’s cheap and less congested compared to estates like Pipeline.
- Githurai
Githurai used to be one of the most insecure estates in Nairobi, but not anymore. Nowadays it’s very secure, police did a splendid work in eliminating or arresting notorious criminals. The leaders in this estate have also done commendable job to put cabros and lighting systems.Githurai can be your home if you are jobless or when you are starting life in Nairobi. Rent is cheap, because single rooms go for Ksh 3,000 to Ksh 5,000.Rent for one bedroom is Ksh 7,000 to Ksh 12,000 while two bedroom house costs Ksh 15,000 to Ksh20,000.
You will access Nairobi CBD through Thika Road.
- Kawangware
Kisiis and Luhya are majority in Kawangware.The Estate is adjacent to Lavington.Life here is quite easy and houses are cheap. You will get a single room for as low as Ksh 2,000.There are also cheap bedsitters and one bedroom houses.If you have Ksh 8,000 to rent a one bedroom house,Kawangware is the best place to look for such a cheap house.
- Uthiru
Uthiru is located next to Kangemi.It’s a better estate than most estates in Eastlands.People living here work in Westlands or Nairobi CBD.There are hundreds of apartments for people starting life in Nairobi. With Ksh 6, 000,you will get a decent bedsitter. There are also a few single rooms which go for Ksh 4,000-Ksh 5,000 per month. One bedroom apartments are majority and they go for Ksh 9,000 to Ksh 15,000 per month.
- Kibera
Kibera is an estate ideal for people with zero income, people who are expected to start from zero.Here you can get a house to rent for Ksh1,000 per month.
Though people claim Kibera is not safe,if you live in this estate,you will conclude otherwise.
You can start life in Kibera and later shift to a better estate.
- Kangemi
Kangemi looks like a slum,it’s located near posh Westland estates. People living in Kangemi are those starting life or who have not made it in life. There are apartments and mabati houses to accommodate all types of people. Rent ranges between Ksh 2,000 and Ksh 15,000 per month depending on the size of the house you wish to rent.
- Ruai,Kamulu,Joska
Ruai,Kamulu and Joska are in the outskirts of Nairobi.They are ideal for people who don’t want to live in congested areas,people who will pay cheap rent but live comfortably.To commute from Joska to Nairobi,it will cost you Ksh 240 to Ksh 300 per day.
