I’ve never seen so many salons in one area like in Kimbo. My goodness! If Ngara is a garage town, Ruiru Bypass a hardware town, then Kimbo is a salon town.
Welcome to Ruiru Kimbo.
If you’re looking for a bedsitter, 1 (one), 2 (two), or 3 (three) bedroom house, or you want to put up a business here, this is for you.
Is Kimbo a good place to live?
So how is life in Kimbo?
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? This is what to expect when you relocate to Kimbo.
Where is Kimbo located?
Kimbo is in Ruiru along Thika Road. When coming from Nairobi CBD, it’s situated beyond the main Ruiru town, but before reaching Kenyatta Road.
How far is Kimbo from Nairobi?
The distance from Odeon Cinema in Nairobi to Kimbo is 25.7 km.
Where do I board matatu to Kimbo?
The Kimbo matatu stage in Nairobi is at the Odeon Cinema. You can also board the matatus along Munyu Road.
Fare from Nairobi CBD to Kimbo?
Ksh. 30-50 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 return in the evening, your budget will look like this:
(100×2) x 5 days = 1,000
1,000 x 4 weeks = 4,000
Besides rent, you’ll spend approximately Ksh. 4,000 in fares per month if you decide to live in Kimbo.
Traffic jam pain points
The main traffic jam pain points when heading to Nairobi CBD in the morning are Muthaiga and the Globe Roundabout.
In the evening as you get back, it’s the stretch from Allsops (GSU HQs) to Garden City Mall and the service lanes at Githurai, Ruiru Bypass, and Kimbo.
Other fares
Fare from Kimbo to Junction/Matangi
Ksh. 30
Fare from Kimbo to Ebenezer/Bethlehem
Ksh. 30
Fare from Kimbo to Biashara
Ksh. 40
Fare from Kimbo to Catholic/Mudia
Ksh. 50
Water availability
Businesspeople in the town center have to buy water to clean their shops. One 20-litre jerrican costs Ksh. 20.
Water availability in residential apartments depends on two things: if the building has enough storage tanks, or if there is a borehole. If those two are lacking be prepared to face challenges.
Borehole water here is (semi)salty.
Food prices
6 of the 10 people I talked to said they consider the price of groceries here as average.
The remaining 4 said the cost is high.
You can shop for cheaper groceries in Ruiru market, or Githurai.
Is Kimbo safe?
So far in 2024, there have been 0 cases of insecurity reported in the media.
For the unreported cases, I talked to the residents.
Now, there has been the murder of a bodaboda man. Please be careful of these areas: backyard, along the rail line, and barabara ya kwenda 14.
Why residents love Kimbo
“Life is affordable.”
“High population is good for businesses.”
“Town center is cleaned regularly.”
“It’s touching Thika Road; easy access to Nairobi CBD and Thika.”
“Good security.”
“People care about the welfare of their neighbors.”
What residents don’t like about Kimbo
“The youth is lost in alcoholism.”
“Inner streets are too dusty during the dry season, then too muddy when it rains.”
“Pockets of insecurity.”
“Insufficient street lighting. There’s only one mulika mwizi.”
“The surge of college students makes the cost of living go up. Rental houses are getting more expensive.”
“Power blackouts.”
Business ideas
Are you thinking of opening a business in Ruiru Kimbo? These are my recommendations.
I was about to say a salon, but does Kimbo need another salon? Or nail spa? Or kinyozi? I don’t think so. I’d advise you to set up a:
•Tuktuk business
•Green grocery store
•Cereals shop
•Fast-food joint
•Small hotel
•Mitumba clothes shop
See what you should expect to find if you relocate to Ruiru Bypass, and Ruiru Ndani.
