Madaraka Estate
Encyclopedia
Madaraka Estate is a middle class residential neighbourhood in Nairobi
located approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city center. The word madaraka is Swahili for self governance while “estate” refers to a housing development. Popularly known as Maada, the neighbourhood is one of Nairobi City Council’s oldest housing developments besides Jamhuri, Huruma
Mariakani and Kariakor estates. It is located approximately 200 meters from Nyayo National Stadium on Lang’ata Road which branches off A104 the intercity highway that links Nairobi to Mombasa
. Madaraka is bordered by other popular residential areas such as Nairobi West, Upper Hill, Kenyatta Estate, Mawenzi, Mbagathi, Nyayo Highrise, AP (Administration Police
) Camp, and Siwaka. It sits on 45 acres of land in a location highly coveted for its close proximity and accessibility to the city. Kibera
, Nairobi's largest slum is also about 3 miles from Madaraka.
and Westlands
, is located at 1°18'26"S 36°48'55"E. It is within walking distance to the city center and its location makes it popular with property developers, private businesses and people attracted to the quite and low crime atmosphere of residential neighborhoods on west side of the city. The place is easily accessible to and from the airports, recreational spots, major educational institutions, hospitals, wildlife parks, museums, commercial and industrial areas. From Lang'ata road, the Ole Sangale road runs midway through the estate to intersect with Karuri Gakure Road.
From the early 1990s it was reported that the City Council of Nairobi had defaulted on a Loan from NHC and the latter obtained a court ruling barring the City Council from collecting rent from Madaraka estate tenants. The tenants were instructed to pay their rents to NHC until the day the City Council would pay off its debt to the Corporation.
Immediately after NHC took over rent collection from the units, there were reports that the corporation was looking to sell the units to private real estate companies, individuals or politicians. The reports infuriated tenants some of whom had lived there for over twenty years as the move was seen as leading to their eviction from the units. Because of Madaraka’s prime location, the sale of the units was an attractive opportunity to both seller and interested buyers as they would renovate the units and sell them or rent them out at higher rents as much as 30,000 per month compared to the very low rents of 3,000 per month paid by the tenants. In 2009, NHC was reported to have put Madaraka estate up for sale. The two bed roomed flats were marketed for KSh1.6 million each and the three bedroom flats for KSh2 million.
In February 2009, police shot dead five suspected gangsters in Madaraka.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
located approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city center. The word madaraka is Swahili for self governance while “estate” refers to a housing development. Popularly known as Maada, the neighbourhood is one of Nairobi City Council’s oldest housing developments besides Jamhuri, Huruma
Huruma
Huruma Estate is a residential estate located in the northeast of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It borders Kariobangi and Dandora to the East, Moi Air Base to the south, Mathare to the North and Eastleigh to the West.- Notable residents :...
Mariakani and Kariakor estates. It is located approximately 200 meters from Nyayo National Stadium on Lang’ata Road which branches off A104 the intercity highway that links Nairobi to Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
. Madaraka is bordered by other popular residential areas such as Nairobi West, Upper Hill, Kenyatta Estate, Mawenzi, Mbagathi, Nyayo Highrise, AP (Administration Police
Administration Police
Administration Police is a security unit belonging to the government of Kenya. It was formed in 1958 when it took over the Tribal Police Ordinance, which was established 1929.- External links:**...
) Camp, and Siwaka. It sits on 45 acres of land in a location highly coveted for its close proximity and accessibility to the city. Kibera
Kibera
Kibera is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi, located from the city centre. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the second largest urban slum in Africa...
, Nairobi's largest slum is also about 3 miles from Madaraka.
Geography
Madaraka, nestled between the larger and more affluent suburbs of KarenKaren, Kenya
Karen is a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya, lying south west of the city centre.It is generally believed that the suburb is named after Karen Blixen, the Danish author of the colonial memoir Out of Africa; her farm occupied the land where the suburb now stands. Blixen herself declared in her later...
and Westlands
Westlands
Westlands is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya.-Location:Westlands is located , by road, northwest of the central business district of Nairobi...
, is located at 1°18'26"S 36°48'55"E. It is within walking distance to the city center and its location makes it popular with property developers, private businesses and people attracted to the quite and low crime atmosphere of residential neighborhoods on west side of the city. The place is easily accessible to and from the airports, recreational spots, major educational institutions, hospitals, wildlife parks, museums, commercial and industrial areas. From Lang'ata road, the Ole Sangale road runs midway through the estate to intersect with Karuri Gakure Road.
History
Madaraka estate was constructed in the early 1970s for middle income city residents. The City Council of Nairobi obtained a loan from the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and constructed 2 and 3 bed-roomed rentals in 46 blocks of flats each with at least 12 units. The 46 blocks of residences comprising 192 two bed roomed flats and 408 three bedroom flats, were opened for occupancy on 1st June 1973 and 600 families moved in.From the early 1990s it was reported that the City Council of Nairobi had defaulted on a Loan from NHC and the latter obtained a court ruling barring the City Council from collecting rent from Madaraka estate tenants. The tenants were instructed to pay their rents to NHC until the day the City Council would pay off its debt to the Corporation.
Immediately after NHC took over rent collection from the units, there were reports that the corporation was looking to sell the units to private real estate companies, individuals or politicians. The reports infuriated tenants some of whom had lived there for over twenty years as the move was seen as leading to their eviction from the units. Because of Madaraka’s prime location, the sale of the units was an attractive opportunity to both seller and interested buyers as they would renovate the units and sell them or rent them out at higher rents as much as 30,000 per month compared to the very low rents of 3,000 per month paid by the tenants. In 2009, NHC was reported to have put Madaraka estate up for sale. The two bed roomed flats were marketed for KSh1.6 million each and the three bedroom flats for KSh2 million.
In February 2009, police shot dead five suspected gangsters in Madaraka.