Is Banana a good place to live?
Let’s take a closer look at Banana Hill.
How is life in Banana Hill?
The rent you’ll pay is one piece of the puzzle.
Daily fare, time spent commuting, food prices, water availability, and even security of the area are other factors you should consider.
So what is it like living there? This is what to expect when you relocate to Banana Hill.
Where is Banana Hill located?
Banana Hill is located after Ruaka and Muchatha along the Banana Raini Road. The postal code for Banana is 00219 Karuri.
How far is Banana from Nairobi?
The distance from Koja stage to Banana Hill is 17.1 km.
Where do I board matatu to Banana?
The Banana Hill matatu stage in Nairobi is located at Koja stage.
Fare from Nairobi CBD to Banana
Ksh. 50-60 during off-peak hours.
Ksh. 80-100 during rush hour.
Let’s do the math. If you commute daily to town in the morning and get back in the evening, this is what your budget will look like.
(80×2) x 5 days = 800
800 x 4 weeks = 3,200
In addition to rent, you’ll spend approximately Ksh. 3,200 in fare per month if you decide to live in Banana.
Traffic jam pain points
The main traffic pain points are Globe roundabout, Gigiri area, and Two Rivers when entering Ruaka town.
Other fares
Fare from Banana to Muchatha
Ksh. 20
Fare from Banana to Ruaka
Ksh. 30
Fare from Banana to Village Market
Ksh. 50
Fare from Banana to Kawaida
Ksh. 40
Fare from Banana to Limuru
Ksh. 50
Fare from Banana to Tigoni
Ksh. 50
Fare from Banana to Kiambu
Ksh. 60
Fare from Banana to Nazareth
Ksh. 60
Fare from Banana to Raini
Ksh. 30
Water availability
There seems to be a water problem here in Banana Hill. 5 out of the 10 people I talked to said they buy water from vendors. A 20-litre jerrican goes for Ksh. 30, sometimes 50.
Even the other 5 who said they have no water challenges, 2 of them said they had boreholes. The other 3 said they stay in buildings with large storage tanks.
Karuri Water and Sanitation Company is the supplier of water here in Banana.
Food prices in Banana
When I landed in Banana market, I expected food prices to be affordably low. I mean, plenty of farmable land surrounds this town.
That’s not the case. 7/10 people I talked to said that food prices in Banana are average. 1 said they’re low, 2 said they’re high.
They told me that landowners are turning this area into concrete jungles, developing fertile land into rental houses instead of using it to produce quality food.
Or the land is sold to a buyer who does the same thing—puts up rental houses.
Vendors in the market therefore get their supplies from Marikiti market, Kiambu market, or Limuru. They have to offset the transportation costs and price it in a way they’ll make a profit…That’s why food is not exactly cheap here.
Is Banana Hill safe?
This year 2023, there have been 0 cases of insecurity in Banana Hill reported in the media.
And what about unreported cases?
For the unreported cases, I talked to the residents.
8 out of the 10 people I talked to said Banana Hill is safe. The other 2 said there are a few cases of theft around the main stage and the market area at night. They, however, acknowledged that the police make frequent patrols around town.
