Virtual Trips Kenya: December 2014

Lavington is one of Nairobi’s upper-class neighbourhoods, and one of the oldest, having been established in the pre-independence days. It has its roots tied to the St. Austin Mission which was established in the area by the French Holy Ghost Fathers. The estate is named after Ralph Payne, a British political leader who hailed from Lavington in Wiltshire, England. Baron Lavington, as he was referred to, was governor of Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.

Lavington is a vast residential area that is bordered by Waiyaki Way to the north and Ngong Road to the south. To the east it borders Kileleshwa and Kilimani, while its western extents border Kawangware and parts of Kangemi.

James Gichuru Road (formerly known as St. Austin’s Road) traverses most of Lavington. It runs from its junction with Gitanga Road, popularly known as Stage 11, past Lavington shopping centre, all the way to its junction with Waiyaki Way, next to the ABC Place shopping centre. A drive along James Gichuru Road is an easy way of seeing Lavington at a glance.

At the heart of Lavington remains Lavington Green shopping centre. The shopping centre has been there for as long as I can remember, and, for a long time, consisted of less than ten shops and service establishments. There was the Post Office, a dry cleaning shop, and a well-stocked toy and gift shop that was run by an Indian man. There was also a snack shop run by an Indian that served the best meat pies and samosas that I have ever eaten anywhere. We used to buy a 300 ml Fanta soda there at 1 shilling and 80 cents in the early ‘80s. At the shopping centre there was also a Salisbury’s supermarket that sold expensive-looking chocolates and wines, among other things, an ice-cream shop that made me love the Lyons Maid brand, and a brightly-lit branch of Gilani’s butchery. Above the shops, at the shopping centre, was one floor of residential apartments. As a kid I always wondered what kind of people lived there.

The shopping centre had beautiful, grassy lawns that we played on as kids on our way from school. Adjacent to these grounds was the public bus stage which served as the terminus for the following Kenya Bus Service (KBS) routes:

• 47 to city centre via Gitanga Road, Argwings Kodhek Road, and Valley Road

• 47A to city centre via Gitanga Road, Chaka Road, and State House Road

• 48 to Huruma Estate via Gitanga Road, Othaya Road, Kileleshwa, Westlands shopping centre, and city centre

• 49 to city centre via James Gichuru Road, Waiyaki Way, Rhapta Road, and Westlands shopping centre

• 50 (the reverse of route 49)

Over the years, Lavington shopping centre has totally transformed in appearance, to become what is today known as the Lavington Curve. More commercial establishments have been added, such as the Kengele’s Pub and Barclays Bank. A six-floor office and commercial block known as the Lavington Mall has also been set up, completely altering the landscape of the area.

Within the vicinity of Lavington shopping centre is the Lavington United Church which has been a permanent feature of Lavington. The community church is run jointly by three denominations – Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican. Pastors from the church would come to us at Lavington Primary School to offer pastoral lessons on Wednesday mornings. The church also runs a nice little kindergarten.

Apart from Lavington shopping centre, Lavington also has another shopping centre known as Valley Arcade, which is located along Gitanga Road. The shopping centre has given the area the name Valley Arcade. Some people, particularly those who live in the neighbouring Kawangware Estate, call the area Bernard. The Methodist Guest House and Conference Centre is located in the Valley Arcade area of Lavington. The Valley Arcade shopping centre, which was actually bigger than Lavington shopping centre, has itself changed over the years. Though not as big as Lavington now, it has substantially grown with additions and extensions to the existing buildings.

Residential development in Lavington is mainly made up of single bungalow compounds. This is what you will find along roads like Convent Drive and O’Washika Road. In some parts of the posh estate, such as Amboseli Road and Gitanga Road, maisonettes and apartment blocks are rapidly coming up.

A number of foreign missions have their residences in Lavington, among them the Uganda High Commission, the Egyptian Embassy, and the Chilean Embassy.

Lavington is well-endowed with educational facilities. It has a myriad of both public and private schools. The two public schools in the area are Lavington Primary and Muthangari Primary (formerly known as Bernard Estate Primary School). The rest are private schools which include prestigious institutions like the Strathmore School, the Saint Mary’s School, Nairobi, the Loreto Convent School, Msongari, Saint Austin’s Academy, the Nairobi Jaffery Academy, the Rusinga School, the Braeburn School, and the Braeside School.

Lavington is served by Muthangari police station which is found along James Gichuru road, not far from the Saint Mary’s School. One of the tributaries of the Nairobi River runs past the area.

There are virtually no empty, undeveloped spaces in Lavington. Even with land prices in the region of 250 million Kenya shillings per acre, all of the prime land has been taken up, 95% of it to put up residential property. The little area left for expansion seems to be on the western side that borders Kawangware.

There is a variety of eating places in Lavington, both for fast food and for fine dining. These include Big Square, Adega Restaurant, Innscor Kenya, Pampa Grill, Peri Peri Grills, Monikos Kitchen, Subzone Restaurant, and Le Palanka, among others.

Lavington is one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Nairobi, if not the most beautiful. But why take my word for it? Take time to drive through and see this for yourself.

The junction of James Gichuru Road and Gitanga Road, popularly known as 'Stage 11'

The new shopping mall at Lavington shopping centre.

The Lavington United Church.

A new commercial block along James Gichuru Road.

A section of the old Lavington Green shopping centre showing some construction extension.

Residential houses in Lavington.

ATHI RIVER

It will be helpful to state, from the outset, that there are three Athi Rivers:

1. The River Athi

2. Athi River town

3. Athi River district

River Athi is Kenya’s second-longest river and has its origins around the Ngong Hills area. From there it traverses the Athi-Kapiti plains on its way to the Indian Ocean which it pours into at Malindi on the Kenyan coast. At its lower stages the river is also known as the Sabaki or Galana. Not too far from the main Athi river is a smaller, seasonal river known as the Stony Athi.

Athi River town is located off Mombasa Road, about 30 kilometres south of Nairobi. The old, dusty town is predominantly an industrial centre. One of the oldest industries here is the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) slaughterhouse. The government-run abattoir processes meat products for export. While its products are delicious, the facility is notorious for the unpleasant stench it emits frequently as a result of the waste matter from animalslaughter processes.

In addition to being an industrial centre, Athi River town is also a government administrative centre. The sub-county (constituency) here is known as Mavoko and is part of Machakos County.Previously, Mavoko was part of the larger Kathiiani constituency in Machakos district.

Other facilities to be found in Athi River town include a municipal market, Athi River District Hospital, the Kenya Meat Institute, banks, and Law Courts.

Athi River district is the vast area after Mlolongo Township all the way to the Lukenya Hill. Limestone is abundant in the area and there are a number of cement factories to be found here. Some of these include Mombasa Cement, Bamburi Cement, East Africa Portland Cement, Savannah Cement, and National Cement.

One of the significant industries located in this area is the Athi River Export Processing Zone which covers the area between East Africa Portland Cement staff quarters and Kitengela.

Athi River district is one of the few areas around Nairobi that still has open space for human settlement. The area is now a major residential area serving those who work anywhere between Nairobi city and Machakos town.

Athi River town hosts old estates such as Makadara, Embakasi, and ‘Site’. There are, however, many newer estates that have sprung up in the wider district, particularly on your left as you drive from Nairobi towards Machakos. One of the first ones to have come up is Valley View Estate just after Mlolongo.Next is Sheshe Gardens,and not far from there is Delta Plains, in the area locally known as Sabaki. Further down the highway one encounters Everest Park and Blue Hills View estates. Further off the highway are beautiful developments such as Lapfund Gardens, Sunset Boulevard, Pine City, and Graceland. Much further down Mombasa Road, past KMC, is Sidai Village.The last major estate isthe beautiful Green Park development, which is next to the Stony Athi. Interspersed with these major estates are individual bungalows and maisonettes.

Athi River district is well served with schools. The most notable ones are Lukenya Academy, Anthena School, Kiuini Preparatory, Star Sheikh Academy, and a couple of public schools. We must also remember that Daystar University’s main campus is to be found in Athi River, at the foot of the Lukenya Hill.

Athi River has been predominantly inhabited by the Kamba ethnic group, but the area is fast becoming cosmopolitan. As Nairobians settle in areas such as Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Ruai, and Kitengela, they are also moving to Athi River.