Kariobangi

Last updated

Kariobangi
Kenya adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kariobangi
Location of Kariobangi in Kenya
Coordinates: 01°15′43″S36°52′51″E / 1.26194°S 36.88083°E / -1.26194; 36.88083
CountryKenya
County Nairobi City
Sub-counties Kasarani and Njiru
Area
 • Total2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2019) [1]
 • Total100,978
 • Density40,286/km2 (104,340/sq mi)

Kariobangi is a low-income residential estate in northeastern Nairobi. It consists of both apartments and slum-type dwellings. The name Kariobangi is believed to have come from an English phrase "Carry your bags" that was used by a white settler during the colonial period, that African natives mispronounced. [2] It is split into two parts, Kariobangi North and Kariobangi South. The northern part was constructed first, with first buildings built in 1961. [3] Kariobangi North is part of the Embakasi North electoral constituency. [4] Kariobangi South is in the Embakasi West constituency. [4] Kariobangi falls under two Nairobi sub-counties: with the north in Kasarani and the south in Njiru.

Contents

Description

Kariobangi South Estate is straddled by the Outer Ring Road (on the Eastern part) and the Nairobi – Thika railway line on the Western and southerly parts. Outer Ring Road joins Kenya's main airport - the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Thika Highway - via the GSU round-about on the North. It hosts the civil servants quarters. The neighbourhoods bordering this estate include Outer Ring Road Estate, Buruburu phase 1 extension and Pioneer Estates on the East (along the Outer Ring Road), Kariobangi North to the North, and Umoja to the South and South Eastern parts. The houses in this estate are varied in design and range from the flats, and maisonettes - including the famous red brick, timber houses (owned by the Nairobi city Council), to the privately owned bungalows.

The estate is served by one city council-maintained school - the Kariobangi South Primary school – and a number of nursery schools and kindergarten. Churches include a Catholic church; Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Kariobangi South Parish; [5] and the AIPCEA[ clarification needed ] churches, all of which are within a stone's throw of each other, even though a number of other churches have since established a presence in the estate. The estate is also served by the city owned and run Kariobangi South Market, which previously catered for all the residents shopping-entertainment needs, but whose stature has of late been seriously eroded by the ever upcoming and rising mini-supermarkets and roadside kiosks.

As is common with most city council estates, the estate has suffered its share of maintenance neglect which coupled with uncoordinated housing extensions and new real estate developments by the so-called 'private developers' has threatened to make the estate lose its original identity and character. A number of former open -children- playgrounds have been grabbed and turned - overnight - into low-cost - both permanent and semipermanent - housing units. The highlight of this trend has been the development of an informal settlement estate 'slum', right next to the primary school. Other types of developments characteristic of the 'land grabbing mania' of the early to late 1990s include the low-cost housing units constructed in the previously vacant and sparse land area, which lies towards the north and eastern parts of the estate and which was earlier reserved for light industries/small-scale enterprises aimed at building an entrepreneurial base in the area - as a way of fighting poverty within the area and the city in general terms.

The land-grabbing mania meant the entrepreneurial dream was never to be realized as intended as the land fell into the hands of well connected - and sometimes politically correct – private developers who have since turned this land into residential estates. All these developments have come at a cost, with insecurity topping the list, leading to the establishment of a chief's camp and an Administration Police post at the heart of the estate to curb the rising incidents of crime. The F.C. Kariobangi Sharks are from here.

Entertainment

The estate's entertainment sector has rapidly grown from the one and only ancient bar of the 1980s and 1990s to a variety of modern highclass entertainment spots catering for diverse tastes. Among them are Mahuti-hini, Hamony pub, Mayaka int'l,Eaglers, Southern springs, The other place, and the recent Josca club and restaurant.

The undisputed and most decorated achievement of the estate in the social-entertainment scene has been the rise of the outspoken and sometimes controversial rap group K-South, who have in the recent past rocked the music scene with their rap lyrics. Musicians from the estate include Abbas Kubaff, Bamboo, Size 8, XYZee, Polycarp Otieno of Sauti Sol, Adawnage and Tom Olang'o. Some lingala bands have resided in the estate. Other notable personalities that have brought the estate to the national limelight include the former Miss Kenya, Yolanda Masinde, and casting director Lenny Juma. The former YK 92 activist Cyrus Jirongo is also recorded to have resided in the estate, as is the comedian Ndambuki.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nairobi</span> Capital and largest city of Kenya

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census. The city is commonly referred to as The Green City in the Sun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thika</span> Municipality in Kiambu County, Kenya

Thika is an industrial town and a major commerce hub in Kiambu County, Kenya, lying on the A2 road 42 kilometres (26 mi), Northeast of Nairobi, near the confluence of the Thika and Chania Rivers. Although Thika town is administratively in Kiambu County, the greater Thika area comprising such residential areas such as Bendor estate, Maporomoko, Thika Greens, Thika Golden Pearl, Bahati Ridge, Thika Sports Club, among others, are within Murang'a County. Thika has a population of 279,429 which is growing rapidly, as is the entire greater Nairobi area. Its elevation is approximately 1,631 metres (5,351 ft).

Dandora is an Estate in Kenya's capital and largest city, Nairobi. It is part of the Embakasi division. Surrounding neighbourhoods including slums such Kariobangi, Baba Dogo, Gitare Marigo and Korogocho. Dandora was established in 1977, with partial financing by the World Bank in order to offer a higher standard of housing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruiru</span> Urban Area in Kiambu County, Kenya

Ruiru is a municipality and sub-county in Kiambu County. It sits within the greater Nairobi Metropolitan region. According to the 2019 national population census, Ruiru is the 4th largest urban centre in Kenya by population. The name Ruiru is of the Kikuyu dialect and possibly relates to the black cotton soil that is found in most parts of Ruiru to the East and South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embakasi</span> A neighbourhood in Nairobi

Embakasi is a neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. It is approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi), southeast of the central business district. Embakasi is considered part of Nairobi's Eastlands area, lying to the south-east of Nairobi County. The Embakasi proper covers other estates in Eastlands such as Donholm, Pipeline, Tena, and Makadara estates. It borders South C and contains South B and slightly more than one third of Nairobi's Industrial Area and Export Processing Zones.

Donholm or Doonholm is a commercial and residential neighbourhood in Nairobi. A legacy of what was a dairy farm with the same name, Donholm is a suburb in the Eastlands area of Nairobi. It is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) east of the Nairobi central business district, within the larger sub-county of Embakasi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamulu</span> Neighbourhood in Nairobi

Kamulu is a neighbourhood located 30.5 kilometres (19.0 mi) from Nairobi central business district(CBD). It borders Joska, Matungulu to the east, Mwalimu Farm, Ruiru to the north, Njiru to the west and Mihang'o to the south west.

The real estate sector in Kenya has seen a boom that began somewhere in the mid to late 2000s because the property market is responding to increased demand.

Umoja is a residential suburb in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger sub-county of Embakasi and the Eastlands area of Nairobi. It is approximately 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) east of Nairobi's central business district. Umoja consists of three smaller neighbourhoods: Umoja I, Umoja II and Umoja Innercore.

Embakasi North is a constituency in Kenya. It is one of seventeen constituencies in Nairobi County. Embakasi North includes five electoral wards: Kariobangi North, Dandora Area I, Dandora Area II, Dandora Area III, and Dandora Area IV. The constituency has an area of 5.50 km2 (2.1 sq mi). It was created prior to the 2013 election when Kasarani Constituency and Embakasi Constituency boundaries were revised. The constituency forms part of two sub-counties of Nairobi; Kariobangi North falls under Kasarani while the Dandora area is in Njiru.

Embakasi West is a constituency in Nairobi. It is one of seventeen constituencies in Nairobi County. The constituency was formed prior to the 2013 elections, and has an area of 9.35 km2 (3.6 sq mi). Most of the area that forms Embakasi West Constituency was part of Embakasi Constituency; though some of its areas were part of Kamukunji Constituency. Embakasi West includes four electoral wards: Umoja I, Umoja II, Mowlem, and Kariobangi South.

Roysambu is a commercial and residential suburb of the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Kasarani area, it is approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) northeast of Nairobi's central business district off Thika Road. The neighbourhood was originally known as Royal Suburbs during the colonial period; morphed to Roy-Subs; then transliterated in local pronunciation as Roysambu by African locals. The neighbourhood is a high-density, hosting the lower middle income to low income segment of the Nairobi residents.

Pipeline is a slum-like neighbourhood in Embakasi in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Eastlands area of Nairobi, it is approximately 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) east of the central business district. It has earned a reputation for its poor infrastructure, coupled with overcrowded flats, narrow streets, littering, as well as its poor drainage system.

Kayole is a low-income neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Eastlands area of Nairobi, it is approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of the central business district.

Njiru is a neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Eastlands area of Nairobi, it is approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of the central business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruai</span> Area of Nairobi, Kenya

Ruai is a neighbourhood in the city of east Nairobi. It is approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of the central business district along Kangundo Road. It is one of the areas located in the far east of Nairobi after Kamulu.

Zimmerman is a mixed-use and residential suburb of the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Kasarani area, it is approximately 13 kilometres (8 mi) northeast of Nairobi's central business district off Thika Road. The neighbourhood got its name from a German industrialist Karl Fritz Paul Zimmerman. The neighbourhood is high-density, hosting the lower middle income to low income segment of the Nairobi residents.

Kware is a slum neighbourhood in Embakasi in the city of Nairobi. Located within the larger Eastlands area of Nairobi, it is approximately 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) east of the central business district. It borders the Mukuru slums and Initially Kware was predominantly an informal settlement but over the years part Kware and Pipeline have earned a reputation for their poor infrastructure, coupled with overcrowded flats, narrow streets, littering, as well as its poor drainage system.

Imara Daima is a neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. It is approximately 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) south of the central business district of Nairobi.

References

  1. ↑ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". KNBS. pp. 248, 250. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Origin Of The Names Of Some Kenyan Localities". Radio Jambo. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Special Report 4
  4. 1 2 "Nairobi County | County Trak Kenya" . Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Home". pceakariobangisouth.org. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.