Ruaka: Spotlight on the Fastest Growing Town in Nairobi

Ruaka is a suburb located along Limuru Road within Karuri Municipality in Kiambu County, which is 15 kilometers from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

Historically, Ruaka was a rural shopping center, with the hinterland being utilized for agricultural purposes, which formed part of the former Karuri Town Council local authority area. However, the change in land use in recent years has allowed for zoning ordinances that have paved way for more high-density developments in the area.

Today, Ruaka’s housing profile is predominantly comprised of high-rise apartment complexes, owing to the area’s growing middle-income earning population and the need for developers to construct efficiently within the available land.

Ruaka has in the recent past become one of the fastest-growing satellite towns in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA) which has in turn made it become a major center for Real Estate investment and development.

According to Annual Markets Review 2022, Ruaka offered relatively high returns on investments up to 7.5% compared to other satellite towns which averaged 6.95%. This has also led to a construction boom in Ruaka supported by the growing demand for residential property.

Furthermore, there has been a shift of investors towards satellite towns like Ruaka due to the availability of cheaper land for development coupled with improved accessibility owning to key infrastructural developments that have unlocked value for investors.

Infrastructural development has played a key role in connecting Ruaka to main transport networks which have also reduced commute time to Nairobi’s CBD hence benefiting home buyers seeking to settle in serene neighborhoods around away from the city.

Some of the factors that have attributed to the growth of real estate in Ruaka include:

Ample Infrastructure

The completion of the Northern Bypass and the expansion of the Limuru Road has greatly improved accessibility in Ruaka and its environs. The upgrade of these roads, in conjunction with the existing Banana-Raini Road, Redhill Road, and Ruaka Hill Road, reduced transit times to the larger NMA, hence increasing investment activities in the area.

Strategic location

Ruaka is located within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, neighboring some of the country’s prime neighborhoods such as Runda (4.3km), Rossyln (4.2 km), Gigiri (6.0km), and Nyari Estate (5.5km). Additionally, it is situated near the United Nations-approved diplomatic blue zone.

The presence of foreign embassies and headquarters of international organizations, such as the United States of America, the Embassy of Jordan, the Italian Embassy, and the UN have also impacted the property values in Ruaka owing to the influx of workers in foreign embassies and headquarters of international organizations, thus creating demand for housing units.

Educational institutions

Ruaka has a number of both public and private learning institutions such as Simoga Valley Primary School, Castle Academy Ruaka, Gacharage School, and many more. Some of the international schools in the area include the International School of Kenya, Peponi School and Rosslyn Academy, and Creche International German School.

Health facilities

The Ruaka area has a number of medical centers that serve the residents in the region, including AAR Healthcare Ruaka, M.P Shah Hospital, and Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Ruaka.

Accessibility to social amenities

Ruaka has access to attractive amenities such as Windsor Gold Club and Wadi Degla Sporting Club.

Accessibility to shopping centers

Ruaka has access to some of the country’s most loved amenities including the largest mall in East and Central Africa, Two Rivers Mall as well as Rossyln Riviera and Village Market which provide affordable options for the middle-income residents living in Ruaka who seek high-end amenities.

According to the KNBS, the larger Karuri area was among the top ten most populous urban areas with a population of 194,342 people in the 2019 census, registering a 49.6% increase from the 129,934 people recorded in the 2009 census.

With the increased trend seen in the past years, it is safe to say that Ruaka will record even more investment opportunities in 2023.

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