By Xavier Brian
Real estate professionals are showing growing interest in Kiambu due to its promising opportunities for acquiring land for both residential and commercial construction projects.
The county’s proximity to the city is a magnet for investors, and coupled with the government’s annual demand for 200,000 housing units, this trend is anticipated to persist.
Renowned for its extensive coffee plantations, Kiambu boasts the largest land area in Kenya, spanning approximately 20,369 hectares as of June 2023.
To provide context, in 2010, there were at least 3,500 coffee estates within the county. However, recent ministry statistics reveal a notable decline, with the number dwindling to a mere 907 coffee estates by 2018/2019.
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Many urban dwellers are relocating to suburbs such as Ruaka, Thindigua, and Ruiru in search of modern apartments, which appeal to young professionals just starting their careers.
For example, Joseph Thiongo, a communication officer, moved from Donholm to Thindigua in search of modern finishes and close access to amenities such as shopping malls, hospitals, and entertainment venues, making his new home comfortable.
Meanwhile, the county government of Kiambu has outlined plans to expand settlement areas, with bidders already invited to construct modern settlements in Umoja and Kiang’ombe, Fort-Jesus in Ruiru town, Bosnian in Githurai Municipality, and Misri in Limuru Municipality. Over 20 bidders had the opportunity to assess the groundwork before submitting their tenders.
The surge in real estate activity has been driven by the government’s development agenda, which aims to provide an additional 1,000,000 houses across the country by 2027.
