“Everything you want is here.”
Welcome to Lumumba Drive.
I will show you places where you’ll find affordable bedsitters, 1 (one), and 2 (two) bedroom houses.
I will also tell you the kind of life you should expect to find, and business opportunities you can exploit.
It’s perfect if you don’t know where to find affordable houses on Lumumba Drive, and you want to avoid getting scammed by fake agents.
Say, for example, you want a Ksh. 10,000 bedsitter. Use this guide to identify the places that have a bedsitter going for Ksh. 10,000 or less, then go there and see if there is one that’s vacant. Or send a friend to check for you.
Please note that all prices are in Kenya Shillings (Ksh.) per month.
If you need a hand in finding a vacant house at a small fee, contact me. But first, read on.
Highlights
I’ll show you where to find:
•Bedsitters 7,000
•1 bedroom 11,000
•2 bedroom 16,000
Is Lumumba Drive a good place to live?
How is life on Lumumba Drive?
The house rent you’ll pay here 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 Lumumba Drive.
Where is Lumumba Drive located in Nairobi?
Lumumba Drive is located in Roysambu, near TRM (Thika Road Mall).
How far is Lumumba Drive from Nairobi?
The distance from Imenti House in Nairobi to Lumumba Drive via Thika Road is 12 km.
Where do I board matatu to Lumumba Drive?
You can board the matatu to Lumumba Drive at Imenti House. These are the matatus heading to Kasarani, and you’ll alight at TRM.
Alternatively, you can board matatus heading to Githurai. These are located along Ronald Ngara Street, and they’ll also drop you at TRM.
You can also board the matatus heading to Kahawa West, they’ll drop you at Lumumba Drive.
Fare from Nairobi CBD to Lumumba Drive
Ksh. 30-50 during off-peak hours.
Ksh. 80 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 fares per month if you decide to live on Lumumba Drive.
Traffic jam pain points
You will experience slow-moving traffic at Muthaiga/Pangani and Murang’a Road (Ngara) if you’re heading to Nairobi CBD.
In the evening, on your way back, the jam is at Allsops (GSU HQ), all the way to Garden City Mall.
Water availability
8 out of 10 people I talked to said they had water throughout.
Verdict: You are unlikely to face water challenges here on Lumumba Drive. Not all buildings are the same, so ask before renting.
Food prices in Lumumba Drive
What do residents feel about the cost of groceries here?
7 out of the 10 people I talked to said they find them average-priced.
The remaining 3 said they feel the prices here are high.
Is Lumumba Drive safe?
In 2023, there was 1 case of insecurity in Roysambu reported in the media here.
So far in 2024, there has been 1 case of insecurity on Lumumba Drive. Read about it here.
There was another one on the neighboring TRM Drive reported in the media. Read about it here.
And what about unreported cases on Lumumba Drive?
For the unreported cases, I talked to the residents.
9 out of 10 people said it’s safe, and that you can walk to your house at any time of the night, even at 3 a.m.
1 person said that the lower side (2nd Avenue) has had few cases of insecurity. They attributed this to the lack of street lighting.
Lumumba Drive when it rains
While the main Lumumba Drive is tarmacked, the streets inside the estate are not. Here is an example of what it looks like during the rainy season.
It gets even worse. Some places have dark sludgy mud. It doesn’t look good at all.
Why residents love Lumumba Drive
I asked the residents what they love about Lumumba Drive and here’s what they had to say:
“It’s secure.”
“It’s near the Thika superhighway.”
“People love each other.”
“It’s full of life. Young people make it exciting.”
“Sherehe kwa wingi”
Business ideas
Thinking about setting up a business on Lumumba Drive?
Two businesses stood out when I visited Lumumba Drive. One, there is a clothes shop every few meters.
Following closely in popularity are beauty parlors, salons, nail spas, and barber shops. It seems there is a ready market for beauty and fashion.
Not to be left behind are wines and spirits and chemists.
Then, the food business is also thriving.
What residents don’t like about Lumumba Drive
I asked the residents what they don’t like about Lumumba Drive and here’s what they had to say:
“Bad roads.”
“There’s no street lighting.”
“Bad drainage system.”
“No public school.”
“No public hospital.”
“Nothing. We have a mall (TRM), USIU is just here, PAC university… we have very good entertainment spots… Everything you want is here.”
Places on Lumumba Drive where you’ll find affordable rental houses
All right! Let’s now dive into places where you’ll find affordable rental houses.
When you enter Lumumba Drive through Kamiti Road, turn to the second lane on your left (the first lane leads to a Shell petrol station).
Here you’ll find:
•1 bedroom 20,000 ; 25,000 ; 26,000
•2 bedroom 25,000 ; 30,000
Proceed ahead along Lumumba Drive, and you’ll find the entrance to the estate on your right.
It splits into two.
Let’s start with the right turn (A), which is the lower side. You will find:
•Bedsitters 8,000 ; 10,000 ; 11,000 ; 11,500 ; 13,000
•1 bedroom 13,000 ; 14,000 ; 17,000 ; 18,000
•2 bedroom 19,000 ; 20,000 ; 23,000
And for the left turn (B), which is the upper side:
•Bedsitters 7,000 ; 8,000 ; 8,500 ; 11,000 ; 11,600 ; 12,500
•1 bedroom 11,000 ; 13,000 ; 13,500
•2 bedroom 16,000 ; 19,000 ; 20,000 ; 21,000
At the end of the upper side B, turn to join the second avenue.
Along this 2nd Avenue, there are:
•Bedsitters 8,000 ; 8,500 ; 9,000 ; 10,000 ; 11,000
•1 bedroom 15,000 ; 17,000 ; 18,000
•2 bedroom 16,000 ; 18,000 ; 19,000
That’s all I’ve got for you in this guide on Lumumba Drive. I hope it has been helpful.
Share this with a friend who wants to relocate to Roysambu.
