About Westlands
Located approximately 3.2 Kilometres by road from the Nairobi Central Business District by road through Waiyaki Way, Westlands is among the most affluent neighbourhoods in Nairobi city, being a high-income residential suburb of Nairobi.
It is an affluent, mixed-use commercial and residential neighbourhood in Nairobi.
It is one among the eight administrative divisions of Nairobi, the others being Central, Kasarani, Kibera, Makadara and Pumwani.
Westlands has all kinds of residential units such as single rooms, bedsitters, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments that are for rent and sale, maisonettes, gated communities, houses in their own compounds, etc, Most housing units are flats, maisonettes and gated communities.
The inhabitants of the estate are mainly high-income earners of the country.
WESTLANDS CONSTITUENCY
Westlands Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya
The constituency is situated within Westlands Sub-county, formerly Westlands District. The constituency has an area of 72.4 km². It was known as Nairobi Northeast Constituency at the 1963 elections, then as Parklands Constituency and since the 1988 elections, it has been known as Westlands Constituency.
It contains some of the high suburb areas such as Runda, Lakeview, Muthaiga, Kitisuru and Highridge, as well as slum areas like Kangemi, Githogoro, DeepSea, Mji Wa Huruma, Kaptagat, Kibagare, Ndumboini, Maasai and Suswa.
The current MP(as of 2021) is Timothy Wanyonyi Wetangula.
Some of the wards within the constituency include Kitisuru, Parklands/Highridge/, Kangemi, Mountain view and Karura.
Westlands is inhabited by people from all walks of life. Expect to meet Business leaders, expatriates, students, etc. It is one of the most ideal expatriate destinations in the country
It is closely bordered by Kileleshwa, Parklands, Spring Valley, Muthangari, Muthaiga, Loresho and to some extent Kabete.
BRIEF HISTORY OF WESTLANDS
It used to be a residential district during the colonial period. Thereafter it housed mainly Kenyan Asians of Indian descent
During the 1990s and early 2000s, as land and office space became scarce and exorbitantly priced in the CBD, more businesses have relocated to Westlands, where land and office space are more readily available and less expensive. Westlands was initially considered part of the Parklands area and became what is now Waiyaki Way, originally the Kenya-Uganda Railway. It is nowadays typically inhabited by a significant number of the city's expatriate population.
WESTLANDS REAL ESTATE
HOUSES AND APARTMENTS FOR RENT
1 bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 35 to 70k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
2 bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 45 to 90k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
3 bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 55 to 180k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
4 bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 75 to 300k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
5 bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 95 to 300k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
Six bedroom houses and apartments for rent in Westlands usually average a price of 95 to 300k depending on closeness to Waiyaki Way and the amenities that the apartment comes with.
HOUSES AND APARTMENTS FOR SALE IN WESTLANDS
1 bedroom houses and apartments for sale in Westlands range from 8m to 16m depending on the architecture, amenities offered, style etc.
2 bedroom houses and apartments for sale in Westlands range from 12m to 18m depending on the architecture, amenities offered, style etc.
3 bedroom houses and apartments for sale in Westlands range from 15m to 30m depending on the architecture, amenities offered, style etc.
4 bedroom houses in Westlands range from 20m to 45m depending on the architecture, amenities offered, style etc.
5 bedroom houses in Westlands range from 30m to 55m depending on the architecture, amenities offered, style etc.
LANDS FOR SALE IN WESTLANDS
Lands for sale in Westlands are usually good for apartment and hotel construction. Some are also good for some agriculture. Their topography is gently sloping.
Flats and apartments in Westlands come with amenities such as lifts. They are usually spacious and comfy.
Block of flats for sale in Westlands vary in terms of the amount of income the flat generates and any monthly expenses thereof.
Hotels and Restaurants for lease in Westlands come with all the modern furniture and are spacious and are located in strategic locations for high traffic.
NOTABLE LANDMARKS WITHIN WESTLANDS
- some of Westland's points of interest include
UNHCR branch office in Kenya - The Sarit Centre Shopping Mall
- The Ukay Shopping Mall
- The Westgate shopping Mall
- The M. P. Shah Hospital, a private hospital
- Unga House – An office high-rise building
- Mpaka Road – Many businesses have offices on this street
- USAID Towers – The headquarters of USAID in Kenya
- The High Commission of Botswana to Kenya
- The Embassy of Norway to Kenya
- The Embassy of Sweden to Kenya
- Westlands Office Park
- Westlands Primary School
- Datoo's Glassware Mart Ltd
- An office of PriceWaterHouse Coopers
- Sankara Hotel
- Dusit D2
- Phillips Pharmaceuticals Head office
- Delta Towers
- Safaricom Head Office
- Art Cafe Head office
- Java Head office
- Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
- Movenpick Hotel
- A branch of Woolworth Stores
- The Nairobi Institute of Technology
SCHOOLS WITHIN WESTLANDS
Hospital Hill Primary School-located along Parklands road. Its a nice school... It has nice facilities which include a swimming pool a good playing field.
2. Waridi School-located in 42, Plot No.20 Sports Rd, Nairobi. The best school for early learning and primary education.
3 Consolata School- located along Chiromo Rd, Nairobi
4. Westlands Primary School – located in Fenesi Gardens, Parklands/Highridge, School Ln. An easily accessible public primary school along School Lane in Westlands with great teachers and staff.
5 Nairobi Institute of Technology- located along 10 Westlands Rd, Nairobi. N.I.T is a Privately owned & managed mid-level college in Westlands, Nairobi. The Leading Building and Construction, Creative Arts & Technology institute in Africa
6 Oshwal Academy Senior High- located along Wambugu Rd, Nairobi.
7. Rhe Aga Khan High School Nairobi- located along Waiyaki Way, Parklands/Highridge. is a
private co-educational, multicultural day secondary school.
TRANSPORT AND DIRECTIONS TO WESTLANDS
To get to Westlands from the CBD, you can board Waiyaki way matatus that are located just behind The Kenya National Archives, along Tom Mboya street, opposite the Odeon building. Transport is usually 30 Kenya shillings.
Any matatu that follows the Waiyaki way route all the way to Kikuyu can easily drop you off in Westlands.
SHOPPING CENTRES WITHIN WESTLANDS
1.The Mall, Westlands- located in Ring Rd Parklands, Nairobi. shopping in this supermarket is very organized. This place may seem small and packed but it is very efficient.
2. Soin Shopping Arcade- located in Westlands Rd, Nairobi. Shop for affordable and cheap office supplies, office essentials, printers and scanners, ink, new and refurbished computers, office furniture, quality printing services, promotional products and more. Your best Mobile, Cosmetics and restaurant in Nairobi, Westlands is also located here Advacafe at Soin Shopping Arcade, is your premium restaurant and excellent hangout space. Try their delicious samosas and amazing menu.
3. Crossroads Plaza- located along Westlands Rd, Nairobi.
4. Sarit, Your City- located along Pio Gama Pinto Rd, Karuna Rd, Nairobi. Sarit is one of the largest shopping malls in East Africa and the first-ever enclosed shopping mall, boasting 500,000 sq ft on six levels. The centre, which opened in 1983, offers a modern and diverse shopping experience, including 250,000 square feet of retail and office space to some 70 retail/service outlets and 50 other tenants.
6. Westgate Shopping Mall- located along 15 Mwanzi Rd Nairobi KE. Westgate, Nairobi’s premier shopping mall in East Africa’s finest shopping, leisure and pleasure destination. Lots of daily, weekly and monthly entertainment for the whole family; Westgate is the only shopping mall in East Africa that has shoppers engaged in exciting and enlightening events for all. With over 80 stores and a variety of art and craft kiosks in our pop-up market as well as entertainment outlets and restaurants; Westgate upholds the standards to keep our shoppers happy and give them the best variety. Westgate Shopping Mall is easily accessible from the city environs. Shoppers are assured of an enjoyable and convenient shopping experience in a relaxed atmosphere; all under one roof. Westgate has ample parking for over 700 cars.
7. Westlands Maasai Market- located in Ring Rd Parklands, Nairobi. The place to be if you are looking for a hassle-free market
HOSPITALS IN WESTLANDS
1. The Mater Hospital Westlands- located in Kenrail Towers M3. The Mater Hospital (Westlands) is a Level 4 Primary care hospital regulated by Kenya MPDBService is quick and the hospital is clean.
2. Chiromo Lane Medical Centre- located on Chiromo Lane Westlands is a mental health hospital in Kenya designed to cater for all types of acute psychiatric disorders, in a safe, secure and dignified environment.
3. Kijabe Hospital, Westlands- located in Azure Towers, Lantana Rd, Westlands. Have state of the art medical facilities and professional doctors and nurses who act promptly to patients.
4 Westlands Medical Centre- located in Parklands/Highridge, Westlands, Nairobi- "Westlands Medical Centre is a Level 3 Medical Center regulated by Pharmacy & Poisons Board
5 Bliss Medical Centre Westlands- located in Waumini House, Ground Floor, Westlands Shopping Centre, Along, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi - is a leading integrated outpatient healthcare network in
Kenya with over 75+ clinics providing quality, accessible and affordable to patients
6 AIC Kijabe Hospital Nairobi Medical Centre- located in Kileleshwa, Dagoretti North, Dagoretti North, Nairobi. is a Level 4 Primary care hospital regulated by Kenya MPDB inKileleshwa ward, Nairobi County.
7 Meridian Medical Centre Westlands
8. Menorah Hospital - Westlands Medical Centre- located in Mpesi Ln &, Muthithi Rd, Nairobi is a state of heart/Modern medical centre located in heart of Westland on Mpesi Lane off Muthithi road. Services offered include: Dialysis ( Private rooms), general medical consultant, Imaging, Lab, Pharmacy, ECHO cardiogram, Ultrasound, Full Body Bone Density Scan, Mammogram, Arthritis treatment with the modern Extracorporeal shockwave technology, Physiotherapy, Endoscopy procedures:- colonoscopy, endoscopy, Multi approach anti-aging treatment, and management
SPORTING FACILITIES IN WESTLANDS
Westlands may not have explicit outdoor games facilities within the neighborhood. Still, it has some state of the art gym facilities and good retail sports shops, some of which include
1. Racing SportsGym Westlands- located in Woodvale Grove 14, Nairobi City. Well-equipped gym with very friendly staff. Hygiene levels are upto the right standard.
2. Nairobi Sports House Sarit Centre
3 Craigs Limited - located in Sarit Centre. Craig's Ltd is a specialist sporting-goods store dealing principally in Golf, Tennis and Squash products. As the official distributor for TaylorMade golf equipment, Craig's prides itself in stocking all the latest TaylorMade Golf equipment at extremely competitive prices, internationally comparable. Entry to intermediate level golf sets/packages, golf accessories, golf balls, golf footwear are also available in brands Craig's Ltd is also the officially appointed HEAD distributor for Kenya, one of the worlds leading Tennis and Squash equipment corporates. All the latest racket models, accessories, and footwear are in stock and updated regularly. An in-house Tennis and Squash racket repair & restringing service is also available
4. Reform Cycling and Strength studio- located along with Karuna Cl, Nairobi. A good cycling gym facility in Westlands
NEARBY BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES WITHIN WESTLANDS
Almost all banks are located in Westlands, Some have their headquatres within the estate , while others have branches
Some of the banks include
1. Guardian Bank Limited - Westlands Branch- located in Mpaka Rd, Nairobi
2. Equity Bank Westlands located in Woodvale Grove, Nairobi
3 Spire Bank - Westlands- located in Ring Road, The Mall, Nairobi
4 COOP BANK Westlands
6.Standard Chartered Bank Westlands
7. National Bank Westalnds
8 Imperial Bank Ltd- Head office
SBM Bank
ABC Bank
All major banks are located in Westlands and offer loan, deposit, and consultation services for their customers
CLUBS, RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES NEAR NAIROBI WEST
K1 Club House
New Club Hypnotica Nairobi- located at Krishna Center, 4th Floor Woodvale Grove, Nairobi
40Forty Plaza- Nice place to spend a Saturday night with friends, loud and good music with an excellent vibe.
Club crooked QW (3Qs)
G-Skyype Lounge
Sting Lounge
MUZE- Amazing sound system and interior design.
Black Diamond- Krishna Centre
Club Wakanda- Good, Excellent, beautiful interior design with better lighting. Customer service is average. Not crowded
All the clubs provide an Amazing place to hung out. Great food, good staff, and an awesome ambiance for a bite, and a great evening with friends.
PROS OF STAYING IN WESTLANDS
1.Close to town- Nairobi west is just under 6km from CBD hence ideal for individuals that require housing units near the town
2. Majorly secure. Nairobi west is majorly secure having within the estate Kenya Police Service training center. Most residential units are also gated with tight security
3.Most residential units have no water issues-Nairobi west is one of the few Nairobi estates that lack water issues. On most apartments in water is available throughout
4. Closeness to many social amenities- Nairobi west is near shopping, churches, and schools
5. Serene environment
CONS OF STAYING WITHIN WESTLANDS
1.Waiyaki wayKenyatta avenue jam
2. Quite expensive residential units versus other Nairobi estates that are not as near to town