Investors cash in on Kiambu Road

For a long time Kiambu Road has been nothing beyond a linkage between Nairobi and Kiambu, which is regarded as the city’s dormitory town. But in the recent past, the 10-kilometre road that was previously lined with shrubs on both sides and scattered homes has been rapidly turning into a business hub as entrepreneurs seek to make the most of the growing population.

Investors have been scrambling for any available space to set up temporary or permanent businesses, including commercial buildings, supermarkets, car bazaars, motor dealership, hospitality related businesses among others.

Apart from the old Muthaiga North and Runda estates that have been undergoing massive expansion, several others such as Fourways Junction, Kasarini, Runda Paradise, Kencom, Even Ville, Mushroom, Five Star and Summer Fields have cropped up.

Other investors have also been putting up high-end apartments for sale and to let.

Entrepreneurs have been putting up businesses near the estates whose occupants previously had to travel to Nairobi or Kiambu Town for shopping, leisure or other services.

EXPANSION PLANS

After the construction of the mega Ridgway’s Mall that brought together different businesses under the same roof among them Nakumatt Supermarket, Coffee and Pizza shops, banks a high-class bar, more are quickly opening doors.

Last week, Quick Mart supermarket opened a mega branch in Thindigua, making it the second big retail shop along the road. The supermarket is hosted by a project that will also host other businesses once complete. Naivas Supermarket is set to open a branch opposite Ridgeways Mall.

The influx of people has attracted motor bazaars and currently, there are more than 12 bazaars, with others under construction.

Players in the hospitality sector are also scrambling for space to put up leisure facilities that have been scarce. They include Sidai Oleng Restaurant, Ridgeways Inn, Aladdin Gourmet Restaurant and Ridgeviews Leisure Garden. Other new hospitality facilities include Phoenicia Hotel, a sanctuary that is nestled away in the scenic gardens of Mushroom Road, off Kiambu Road and Loswani Place located near Five Star, Mushroom and Even Ville estates and Columbiana restaurant located at Milestone business centre.

But the development has not come with challenges, among them congestion that has led to traffic snarl-ups. Kiambu Governor William Kabogo recently announced there were plans to expand the road.

Road “An entrepreneur is someone who sees any opportunity and turns it to a business venture and therefore, for them, the increasing population is a market for various goods and services and that’s why they are scrambling to space to put up businesses,”  said John Mwaniki, a economics graduate and a businessman.

But the development has not come with a challenge, among them congestion that has led to traffic snarl-up.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo recently announced that there is a plan to expand Kiambu-Nairobi Road in project.