The changing face of Pangani ‘skyline’

Those who often drive [or walk] through Nairobi's Juja Road, just around Pangani Girls, extending towards Chai Road and Mlango Kubwa, must have seen these new developments.

More than a dozen modern apartments are competing to ‘touch the sky’ – a competition that seems to have no clear winner yet.

Dozens of high-rise apartments that are still under construction dot almost every available space – dwarfing countable bungalows and mansionettes that have for decades defined this neighbourhood.

Safety nets and building props can be seen hugging giant walls of these upcoming buildings. All these tell a story of change in this busy neighbourhood.

Man and machine work day and night, opening the path for these giant structures to slowly take over the skyline.

According to residents, the ‘competition’ is informed by the thriving business and population in Pangani and Eastleigh estates.

“Pangani and Eastleigh are what I would call the bedroom of Nairobi. Most people prefer living here because of their proximity to the Nairobi Central Business District,” says property expert Michael Bijus.

“Most of the developers are targeting expatriates and the middle-class who would prefer to live close to the capital because of work engagements."

“Others are targeting students who attend colleges and would still like to be close to the capital. That is why developers are putting up modern and yet relatively cheap apartments to tap into this market,” says Bijus. 

Emmanuel Makina who resides in Pangani told Wananchi Reporting that he can easily walk to his office in Ngara.

“It takes me roughly 10 minutes to drive to the office from my house,” says Makina – noting that he saves a lot on fuel.

“Sometimes I just leave my car at home and walk to work, which I find healthy," he adds.

"There are many people who live in Pangani and walk to work. I think largely because many families are grappling with high cost of living," says Makina.

 The ongoing Pangani Housing Project undertaken by the government said to house over 1,500 housing units on land previously occupied by 48 tenants only adds to the flowery skies of Pangani.

“Some of the building are done by private developers, while others are part of government programme to promote affordable housing,” says Bijus.