THE ESTATES OF KAKAMEGA TOWN

Kakamega town is the heart of Kakamega County, just like when it was the provincial headquarters during the timers when the country was divided into provinces. Kakamega is one of the fastest growing towns in the country with a population of almost 100,000 people. 

The growing population has created a huge housing demand for housing and speaking to most residents they say it is not yet sufficient. However, with many up coming new apartments in various estates, there is definitely some hope to bridge the housing demand gap in the near future. The town’s population is majorly the local inhabitants, workers and students in the various learning institutions.

There are several estates that have been established within the town to serve the vast population and different cadres of people. We have almost 15 estates in Kakamega town; and I will focus on defining an estate with the population it attracts.

SHIRERE AND AMALEMBA ESTATES

These two estates will welcome you on your entry to this beautiful town, being situated along Kisumu road. On interaction with people from this areas, I found out most of them are civil servants (government workers), corporate officers and students of Kenya medical training college.

Amalemba has the scheme that is on the lower side of the estate, and this is where most KMTC students reside, and a few other home owners who bought or have rented the municipal houses. There’s also Mdiri settlement that is housing for the civil servants and the police. It also prides itself in hosting the national housing cooperation houses, the old one and the new one which are apartments in a gated community with about 80 units.

Most of the houses for rent here are single rooms, 1bedrooms,two bedrooms and three bedrooms. Most landlords however are currently building apartments especially with the expected functioning of the referral hospital, projection is that they will have clients to host.Business here has come up well despite the challenge that has been with Covid-19. Before, shops and stalls would open up to 11pm. 

MILIMANI, OTIENDE AND MURRAM ESTATES.

These are supposedly the leafy suburb estates of Kakamega from their build. Most housing are gated and the roads passing through them arte well tarmacked. Milimani hosts heads of various government departments. It borders the county hospital, the golf course and the Provincial Commissioner’s office where most of government offices are includ-ing the courts and the County Assembly.

Housing here are the stand alone types, single 

house for each compound and just a few where they have been converted to apartments having more than one unit. This means that these estates if they embrace modernity, a large population will seek residence here. Good news is that there’s a plan to construct NHC houses in Otiende Estate soon. 

Insecurity is also a great issue here especially during the day when most people leave for work, the houses remain empty and thus thieves take advantage.

LURAMBI

Talking about Lurambi, the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind, those familiar with Kakamega is Masinde Muliro University. Lurambi’s large population is the students from MMUST, student from other colleges in town and college workers. Lurambi has other small estates; Sichirai, Koromatangi and Kefinco which harbour students .This is where you are likely to find bedsitters and studio apartments. We also have a lot of people who have settled here and built their homes, especially Sichirai and kefinco. Unfortunately, the governor recently listed these estates as part of the county municipal land.

Insecurity is the greatest threat that makes other people avoid staying in this estates as students tend to steal a lot from each other and even the other people.

SHINYALU BAR AND EBAMBWA

The pace at which the above mentioned areas are coming up is amazing. Most land owners here have converted their pieces of land into plots that are seeing construction of modern residential apartments.

Modern housing has been fully embraced here 

thus making the area a nice area to stay, espe-

cially if someone is targeting to be away from 

town. Ebwambwa has many modern apartments ready for settling and many more that are still under construction.

There’s no much complain about insecurity as 

most compounds are well fenced and have a security person manning the property both day and night time.

JUAKALI,SHIKHAMBI AND MARABA ESTATES

These three are located in the heart of town, a 20-50 shillings ride to your house using either motorbikes or ‘tuktuk’, with the easily accessible roads, in Maraba estate you will find apartments and own compound estates as we have people who bought land to settle here. The houses go at an affordable price with few of the high end type that will have you dig a little deeper in your pockets as well. 

Juakali on the other has a lot of houses of all 

types, and rooms. The place however has had 

controversy with the claim that the particular 

piece of land belongs to the county and should 

be used as a garage which means that demoli-

tion is a surprise that non can easily wish away.

These estates host industrial workers and also a percentage of students, which makes insecurity a great issue for the residents here.

JOYLAND AND IKONYERO ESTATES

These are located along the Mumias road. Ap-

parently, Kakamega town is growing towards 

this direction. People are buying land to settle, 

others are building residential units. For in-

stance Ikonyero pieces of land have become 

quite costly due to the large number of buyers. 

You can go further to rosterman or Joyland Musonga to find well built houses at an affordable price for you to call home. Road network is also being improved to enhance accessibility to the deeper parts if the estates but most residents are calling on the county government to have them tarmacked.

Aside from these estates, we have a number of 

people who opt to stay away from town, 5-25 

kilometers from town. Areas such as Muraka, 

Khayega, Malava, Shisiru-Center and Makunga 

have attracted tenants since some landlords are embracing modern housing away from town. 

There is an increased demand for necessary 

basic inputs for housing development. This is 

evident as land has become scarce and those 

available for sale are offered at a high cost that 

is too expensive for most people to afford. Low 

income earners have been forced to live in 

slums such as Kaburini, Amalemba Scheme, 

Masingo, Kisumu Ndogo among others.

In conclusion, as Kakamega town grows, it is 

evident that it comes with an increased demand for housing for the growing population. There’s need for accessible and affordable housing with basic utilities like water and electricity and therefore there’s need to encourage positive growth which will in turn lead to expansion of the social, economic and even political lifestyle of Kakamega town citizens.