Is Ongata Rongai a good place to live?
Let’s take a closer look at Ongata Rongai.
What’s life liike in Ongata Rongai?
Because the rent you’ll pay is one piece of the puzzle.
Daily fare, time spent commuting, food prices, water availability, and security are other factors you should consider.
So what is it like living there? And is it a good fit for you? Let’s find out.
This is what to expect when you relocate to Ongata Rongai.
Where is Ongata Rongai located?
From Nairobi CBD, Ongata Rongai is located along Magadi Road after Lang’ata. It is in Kajiado County.
The postal code for Ongata Rongai is 00511.
Distance from Nairobi to Ongata Rongai
The distance from Nairobi Railways bus station to Tuskys Ongata Rongai via Lang’ata Road and Magadi Road is 18.7 km.
Where do I board matatu to Ongata Rongai?
The Ongata Rongai stage in Nairobi is located at Railways bus station at the intersection of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue.
Fare from Nairobi CBD to Ongata Rongai
Ksh. 30-50 during off-peak hours.
Ksh. 100 during rush hours.
Let’s do the math. If you commute daily to town in the morning and get back in the evening, this is how your budget will look like:
(100×2) x 5 days = 1,000
1,000 x 4 weeks = 4,000
In addition to rent, you’ll spend approximately Ksh 4,000 in fares per month if you decide to live in Ongata Rongai.
Traffic jam pain points
There was a time when it took hours to get to Ongata Rongai due to crazy traffic jams.
The construction of overpasses at T-Mall and Galleria Mall have helped alleviate the pain.
However, magadi Road is still a mess. The road is too narrow considering the high traffic along it. That it’s still a single-carriageway in 2024 beats all logic.
For instance, the traffic jam can stretch from Multimedia University all the way to Tuskys.
Other fares
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kiserian
Ksh. 50
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Nkoroi
Ksh. 50
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kandisi
Take a motorbike (bodaboda) Ksh. 150-200
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kitengela
I was surprised to find out there is no direct matatu from Ongata Rongai to Kitengela.
You’ll first have to get to Kiserian, then connect to Kitengela.
I was told Maasai Lodge Road can get you to Kitengela, but it’s in bad shape and still under construction, so matatus avoid it.
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Nakuru
Ksh. 700
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kisumu
Ksh. 1,600
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Eldoret
Ksh. 1,300
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Bungoma
Ksh. 1,600
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kisii
Ksh. 1,500
Fare from Ongata Rongai to Kakamega
Ksh. 1,600
Water availability
I talked to 10 residents about water availability in Ongata Rongai.
6 of the 10 people I talked to complained of water challenges. They told me that they get water from Oloolaiser Water once a week. Sometimes they can go for weeks without water. On other days they use water from boreholes.
Those with no borehole in their residential places buy water from vendors. One 20-litre jerrican goes for Ksh. 20. At times it goes for Ksh. 30 or even 50!
Market food prices in Ongata Rongai
Ongata Rongai has one lifeline: the Kware market.
7 out of the 10 people I talked to said that food prices at Kware market are low to average.
The remaining 3 were located far from the market (Rongai is big) and said they find food prices in Ongata Rongai high.
Is Ongata Rongai safe?
Securitywise, 2023 was a bad year for Ongata Rongai. Cases of mobile phone theft by bodaboda gangs and house-breakings were high.
There were at least two cases of insecurity reported, here and here.
So far in 2024, there has been at least 2 cases of insecurity in Ongata Rongai reported in the media. Read about them here, and here.
What about unreported cases?
For the unreported cases, I talked to the residents. They said cases of theft had decreased.
They identified the Kware area, Mandazi Road, Kimani Kinuthia Road, Magenche Road, and Kisumu Ndogo along Gataka Road as hotspots.
What residents love about Ongata Rongai
“It accommodates all classes of people, high, middle and low class.”
“High population is good for business.”
“Good for raising a family.”
“Diversity of people. Originally only Maasai but now a mix of different tribes.”
“There’s now a morgue (at Saitoti Hospital).”
What residents don’t like about Ongata Rongai
“The town is dirty.”
“Dirty roadside trenches.”
“Lack of a sewer line.”
“Narrow Magadi Road.”
“Waves of insecurity.”
“Water challenges.”
“Expensive rental houses.”
“Traffic jam.”
“Exaggerated fare prices to Nairobi CBD. They can go up to Ksh. 120, even 150.”
Business ideas
It’s hard to single out popular businesses because Ongata Rongai has a little of everything. However, if you want to put up a business here, consider one of these:
•Green grocery
•Fresh water refill point
•Matatu
•Hardware
•Exhauster services
I hope this has been helpful. Send the link to this post to a friend who is searching for a house in Ongata Rongai.