Nakuru’s Section 58 gets a facelift

Section 58 is probably  the only area in Nakuru Town that enjoys a clean environment, thanks to its beautiful and well-maintained infrastructure. 

Referred to as the Lavington of Nakuru, the estate was mostly occupied by Asians in the 1970s and 1980s, and boasts mostly bungalows and maisonettes.

However, in response to the growing middle-income group’s desire for exclusive housing, land owners in Section 58 are now demolishing their single dwellings and replacing them with ultra-modern apartments.

One of the first such projects is Temple Apartments, comprising two- and three-bedroom units that sits on a half-acre plot in the heart of Section 58. It is jointly owned by three prominent Nakuru businessmen, Messrs Ramesh Thakar, Raju Patel and Hitesh Bhuva.

The development comprises five floors of four apartments each.

A two-bedroom unit will cost Sh12.5million and a three-bedroom unit Sh14.5million.

“Section 58 is exclusively a single-dwelling area but the cost of land has skyrocketed, such that nobody can afford to buy any, that is why we bought this land and decided to put up apartments that the growing middle income group can afford,” offered Mr Patel.

He said he was optimistic that the units would be snapped up by the time they are completed at the end of this year due to the growing number of middle-income investors who prefer apartments to homes.

Due to high demand, those who wish to book a unit are required to make a down payment of 20 per cent of the cost of the unit and 60 per cent of the balance within 10 months, and then clear the balance on taking possession.

Mr Patel said many investors have shown keen interest in the units.

“The demand for the apartments is encouraging and we have received inquiries from Kenyans living in Uganda and the diaspora,” he said. 

Work on the apartments began in September last year and is expected to be completed in November this year.

Located about two kilometres from the central business district, the apartments offer a  panoramic view of the Lake Nakuru National park.

They are also close to  religious organisations, educational institutions, hospitals, retail shops, entertainment and banking facilities.

Other benefits include ample parking, a modern rooftop gym and swimming pool, high-speed lifts, an electric water heating system, large  water storagetanks and modern security with CCTV cameras.

Besides reducing the demand for housing, the multi-million shilling project is a big boon to the construction industry and is also creating hundreds of jobs for unemployed youth.

The apartments are targeting investors who cannot afford land in suburbs such as Milimani.

Mr James Muigai, a director of Muigai Commercial Agencies, says half an acre in Section 58 costs Sh60million while an identical parcel in Milimani costs between Sh20million and Sh25million, depending on its location and proximity to the town centre.

“The change of user in Section 58 from single-dwelling to multiple dwelling such as apartments is inevitable because of the cost of land in Nakuru Town and the rising population of middle-income residents in the area,” said Mr Muigai.

He added that the change in the  area is not unique since the same  thing is happening in areas such as Lavington, Kitisuru and Kileleshwa in Nairobi, where apartments are steadily replacing bungalows.