Houses in Mountain View Estate are quite expensive.
There is an area, though, where I found cheap rental houses. In all honesty, this area is not within Mountain View Estate. It’s the surrounding area, and it’s technically Kangemi.
But residents still call it Mountain View because they are dropped at Mountain View Mall by matatus. So, yeah, Mountain View, and that’s what I will feature today.
This is a guide to rental houses in Mountain View.
It’s perfect if you don’t know where to find affordable houses in Mountain View, and you want to avoid getting scammed by fake agents, who are all over.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry. I will show you where to find affordable single rooms, double rooms, bedsitters, and 1 (one) bedroom houses in Mountain View.
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 one is vacant. Or send someone to check for you.
Please note that all prices are in Kenya Shillings (Ksh.) per month.
Highlights
I’ll show you where to find:
•Single rooms 4,000
•Double rooms 4,000
•Bedsitters 10,000
•1 bedroom 15,000
•2 bedroom 19,000
Is Mountain View a nice place to live?
Before diving into places where you’ll find affordable rental houses, let’s take a closer look at Mountain View.
How is life in Mountain View?
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 Mountain View.
Where do I board matatu to Mountain View?
The Mountain View stage in Nairobi is located at Super Metro stage near Kenya National Archives.
You can also board at the lower side of Latema Road near River Road.
How far is Mountain View from Nairobi?
The distance from Kenya National Archives to Mountain View is 11.7 km.
Where is Mountain View Estate in Nairobi?
Mountain View Estate is located along Waiyaki Way after Westlands and Kangemi.
Fare from Nairobi CBD to Mountain View
Ksh. 30-50 during off-peak hours
Ksh. 60-70 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:
(70×2) x 5 days = 700
700 x 4 weeks = 2,800
In addition to rent, you’ll spend approximately Ksh. 2,800 in fare per month if you decide to live in Mountain View.
Traffic jam pain points
You will experience brief traffic as you leave town to join Waiyaki Way, just before Westlands.
There is also a traffic jam at Kangemi Bridge in the evening.
Other fares
These are the fares from the matatu stage at the nearby Kangemi market.
Fare from Mountain View to Kikuyu
Ksh. 50
Fare from Mountain View to Limuru
Ksh. 100
Fare from Mountain View to Naivasha
Ksh. 300
Fare from Mountain View to Nakuru
Ksh. 500
Fare from Mountain View to Nyahururu
Ksh. 600
Fare from Mountain View to Eldoret
Ksh. 1,200
Fare from Mountain View to Kitale
Ksh. 1,200
Fare from Mountain View to Kisii
Ksh. 1,200
Water availability
Remember, we are talking about the area around Mountain View, not inside the estate.
Residents told me that water was a challenge in 2023 due to many road constructions that interfered with water pipes.
Only 4 out of 10 people I talked to in 2024 said they had water challenges.
They said they only receive water 2 times a week.
When it’s not available, they buy a 20-liter jerrican at… hear this… 40 bob! Sometimes it goes for 50 shillings!
Residents also complained that during the Nairobi Show, they hardly have any water because all water is channeled to the showground. How true is this?
Food prices in Mountain View
6 of the 10 people I talked to said that food prices in Mountain View Estate are average.
3 said they are low.
Only one said they’re high.
I could confirm that food commodities at the nearby Kangemi market were really cheap.
Is Mountain View safe?
In 2023, there were many cases of insecurity around Mountain View reported in the media, one of them here.
So far in 2024, there is one.
And what about unreported cases?
For the unreported cases, I talked to the residents.
6 of the 10 of the people I talked to said that there are bodaboda gangs that snatch mobile phones from people.
They also said that during the political demonstrations (maandamano) of 2023 there were many cases of theft from protesters.
But I was told in the consequent maandamano, the protesters were barricaded from reaching Kangemi.
Be careful with the following areas, especially at night: Thiong’o, Dallas, Barabara ya carwash, Kangemi flyover, Dam.
The gated Mountain View estate is safe.
Why residents love Mountain View
“Affordable food prices.”
“It’s touching Waiyaki Way. Easy access.”
“Cheap fares to Nairobi CBD.”
“Cabro-paved roads.”
What residents don’t like about Mountain View
“Expensive house rents.”
“Most houses ni za mabati.”
“The market area at Kangemi is too muddy when it rains.”
“No proper planning of the town.”
“Youth lost in alcoholism.”
Business ideas
If you’re thinking of setting up a business in Mountain View, think of:
•Duka (small shop)
•Hotel
•Mitumba clothes and shoes
•M-Pesa
•Pub
•Bodaboda
•Kibanda
Alright! Let’s dive in.
Places in Mountain View you’ll find affordable rental houses
These are some of the affordable houses I found around the Mountain View area.
Near the entrance of Mountain View Mall take the inner road along the wall.
Then take a left turn when you join the tarmac (Hinga Road) See insert.
Rental houses along Hinga Road
A is the inner road to Deliverance Church International.
But just before this, there are mabati houses that go for:
•Singles 4,100
•Double rooms 4, 000
Then along A itself you will find:
•Bedsitters 10,000
•1 bedroom 15,000
•2 bedroom 19,000
B is the inner road near the Pentecostal Assemblies of God.
There are several houses in this area.
•Single rooms 7,000
•Bedsitters 10,000
Most houses here are behind closed gates, showing they are serious about security.
The more you proceed along Hinga Road, the more you get into Kangemi and to be fair, those are rental houses I will cover under Kangemi.
Mountain View outlook: 2024 and beyond
Most affordable houses in Mountain View are mabati houses. And they’re not cheap.
A mabati single room goes for Ksh. 4,500. In other places that’s a bedsitter.
So why don’t the owners build modern stone houses? It’s the same problem I found in Uthiru.
Those working in Westlands, Loresho, and Lavington prefer to stay in Mountain View.
When demand for houses rose, the landlords simply increased the rents, and they continued to do so every year.
Few are interested in building stone houses.
When I asked why the owners don’t get a loan from commercial banks to put up one, I was told they fear “watanyang’anywa title deed” (they may lose the title to the bank).
Probably they’ve seen one such case (they do happen when you fail to pay the loan) so they may be justified to say so.
Then there are pieces of land that you find the owner has simply refused to develop.
What do you think will help Kangemi modernize? Let me know.
Check out rental houses in Uthiru.
