These are fast-growing areas, very attractive to property investors, but there are many challenges. There is poor infrastructure, poor lighting and social amenities in relation to their populations. Many tenants are leaving the area, and a number of rental buildings are half occupied. PHOTO | PAUL LETIWA
According to Mr Robert Macharia, the chairman of the Greater Rongai Residents Welfare Association (Gorrwa), doing business in the two centres is becoming expensive.
The area also has an acute shortage of public schools, and piped water.
Benjamin Ruto moved from Roysambu along Thika Road to Ongata Rongai in 2012. “I lived along Thika Road for three years. It was a good place but I was forced to move our because the landlord kept increasing the rent. I decided to move to Ongata Rongai where, I had been told, rents were 50 per cent cheaper,’ he says.
However, life in Ongata Rongai turned out to be even more expensive.
