Nairobians are relocating to Machakos County in droves as they escape the hustle and bustle that is life in Kenya's capital.
Although many move in search of a quite and serene environment not very far from the city, others are relocating because it makes economic loads of sense.
Kenyans.co.ke spoke to some residents who opted to relocate to Machakos County to try and find out what exactly inspired their move.
Land Prices
“I decided to buy land in Athi River because the price was affordable compared to other areas in Nairobi, and I could also easily access the Central Business District (CBD) where I work without much hustle,” Rose Mweu said.
Data from HassConsult, a real estate agency, shows that Machakos county has cheaper land prices compared to other Nairobi Satellite towns.
The data shows that the average price of an acre of land in Athi River goes for Ksh13.9 million, while the average price of an acre in Kiambu county is Ksh38.6 million. This has seen many people opting to buy land in Machakos rather than in other Nairobi Satellite towns.
Rent
Rent prices in Machakos are significantly lower compared to the rent prices in places like Kiambu and the outskirts of Nairobi, where many people who work in the city would alternatively opt to stay.
This has seen many Nairobians renting houses in Mlolongo, Athi River and Machakos Town. Rent for two bedroom house in Machakos averages between Ksh10,000 and Ksh15,000. At this price, one cannot find a decent house in Nairobi and its outskirts.
Real Estate Growth
Many estates have sprung up in Machakos County especially along Mombasa Road, where estates like Serene Park, Green Park and Everest are built. The estates offer their clientele the option of choosing between buying an apartment, a villa or a bungalow.
A report by Kenya Bankers Association(KBA) states that average prices for real estate properties were the lowest in a number of towns including Athi River and Mlolongo.
Expressway
The Nairobi-Mombasa highway has as also wooed many Kenyans to move to Machakos County. This is because the traffic jam has greatly reduced, which means one can spend less than an hour to commute from Machakos Town to Nairobi CBD.
The bus fare from Machakos town averages between Ksh100 and Ksh250, and many Kenyans have opted to live in Machakos instead of boarding different matatus every morning.
Quiet life
Other Kenyans are moving to Machakos town in search of a quite life, away from the busy capital. The county has all the amenities that one would need, like schools, hospitals, churches, mosques and even parks.
The county also has the Universal Health(UHC) programme which ensures that health care is available to all Kenyans.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Machakos is much lower compared to Nairobi. Necessities like vegetables don't cost much. Schools and even hospitals also don't charge an arm and a leg. One would have to pay a lot for the same goods and services in Nairobi.
