(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Membley, a residential estate in Kiambu County, has grown from a sparsely populated area with poor roads and limited security into a dense housing hub, driven by spillover demand from the older Kahawa Sukari neighbourhood and improved road networks.
Unlike large gated developments where a single developer builds uniform houses, Membley has grown organically. Individual buyers acquired plots and built homes to their preferences, while in some corners, groups of homeowners pooled resources to create small gated courts.
Job Kimani, a real estate agent at Zani Property Limited, says demand remains strong even as land becomes scarce. He says the demand for property in Membley is very high, with people continuously asking for plots.
He notes that the estate is broadly divided into sections based on the size of the original parcels, measuring 50 by 100, 100 by 100, and 40 by 80 feet, reflecting the different companies that sold land in the area.
Kimani says that when coming from Kahawa West, there is the Membley on the left, including areas such as Serengeti and Sweet Waters, which are the 50 by 100 parcels that sell from KES7.5 million ($52,000 / £41,000 / €48,400) upwards.
Larger 100 by 100 plots command premiums of KES13.5 million ($93,500 / £73,700 / €87,100) to KES15 million ($104,000 / £81,900 / €96,800) in areas such as Pavilion, Forest Road and Jerusalem, while roadside parcels set aside for commercial use start at KES35 million ($242,000 / £191,000 / €226,000). At the smaller end, 40 by 80 plots around Milimani Court and Riverside average KES6.5 million ($45,000 / £35,500 / €41,900).
For early buyers like Miriam Mukami, who purchased her plot 15 years ago for about KES500,000 ($3,460 / £2,730 / €3,230), the appreciation has been remarkable. She says she was attracted to Membley because she was looking for a good place to put up a residential home that was affordable and controlled.
At the time, the estate was sparsely populated, with poor roads and limited security. She recalls that the place did not look as attractive as it is today, with bad access roads, very few residents and many security challenges.
Today, she notes that as many people have constructed and the roads have become apparent, residents now use only one gate to access their places, compared to the many access points that existed before. That indicates all the empty plots have now been occupied or construction is ongoing.
Job traces part of Membley’s growth to its location and its relationship with the older Kahawa Sukari neighbourhood. He says Membley is an overflow of Kahawa Sukari, which was once the top estate on Thika Road, but when it was full, people started gravitating to Membley.
Improved road networks have made commuting easier and attracted businesses to serve the growing population. Job adds that proximity is the major factor that has made Membley grow, with easy access to Thika, Mombasa Road and Kiambu.
One of Membley’s distinctive features is the proliferation of small gated courts. Groups of buyers often engage a single developer, creating semi private enclaves that balance individuality with shared security.
Miriam notes that growth has also forced residents to organise, pointing to the Membley Residential Association, which coordinates security, roads, hygiene and development. She says that as more residents come in, they are able to organise themselves to do roads, ensure good hygiene within the estate and keep property in good value while also increasing its value.
The construction boom has spurred business opportunities. Lavin Munene, owner of Supperfinish and General Suppliers, moved to Membley in 2016 to open an electrical supplies shop. He did market research and did not see any electrical shop around, which is why he ventured into electrical and petrol station items.
As roads improved and more residents moved in, sales grew. Lavin rents his shop for KES25,000 ($173 / £136 / €161) a month.
Hardware stores remain the most common businesses, reflecting the estate’s ongoing building activity. Rental demand has also expanded, with one bedroom units fetching at least KES18,000 ($125 / £98 / €116) per month.
High rise apartments now dot the estate, signalling a shift toward denser living as land becomes scarce. While bare parcels remain, often held by families or diaspora investors, the supply is shrinking.
Job points out that completed houses are also entering the market, particularly on smaller plots, with asking prices around KES30 million ($208,000 / £164,000 / €194,000).
For early homeowners such as Miriam, the challenge moving forward will be ensuring that increasing density does not erode the qualities that initially attracted residents. She says that as more people rent in the area, there is a need to be careful that the integrity of the core values of the initial owners is well maintained.
Short term rentals such as Airbnb have appeared in parts of the estate, though she notes they have not yet raised any concerns for the residents. She says that from time to time people run Airbnbs within the estate, and sometimes that may bring a different cadre of people, with a bit of disturbance here and a party there, but so far that has not been a big issue.
For her, the investment has paid off. She says the place has lived up to its potential and she is grateful she made the decision to invest then as opposed to waiting or being elsewhere.