Got a good house or land deal in Ondiri, Kikuyu, but can’t decide whether the area is right for your family? Like any other place in Kenya, the neighborhood has both its good and not-so-good moments. As a native of the area, I’ve compiled a list of key things you should know before moving here.
Below are these crucial points we’ll briefly cover in this article. Although the article is short, you can click on any point to jump directly to its detailed breakdown.
An Overview of the “Old Lake” — Ondiri, Kikuyu Neighborhood
Ondiri is one of the many neighborhoods around Kikuyu town. It takes its name from the famous Ondiri Wetland (known to the natives as the ũndirĩ swamp). Ondiri (or ũndirĩ) is the Kikuyu dialect word for “Old Lake”—a name given to the wetland by white settlers during colonial times.
The Ondiri Wetland carries a wealth of history, stories, and even published works. But the Ondiri I know best—and can speak most authentically about—is my home village, or rather what used to be my home village, as it has since transformed into a lavish residential neighborhood.
Years ago, Ondiri was primarily agricultural land, where our parents and grandparents farmed crops, raised livestock, or often did both. Most households had enough land to support all their needs.
In the early 2010s, while I was still in high school, many landowners had grown weary of farming. The younglings at the time were largely “cool kids” who don’t do farm work. As a result, people began leasing out their farms to outsiders—actually, to one newcomer who wanted to try agribusiness.
I know some will disagree with me, but I believe this marked the beginning of real estate development in Ondiri, Kikuyu. Landowners started putting their plots up for sale, and soon, new high-end homes began appearing in the neighborhood.
Fast forward to today, these high-end homes have become common, with more and more new residents joining the community. What began as a few modern homesteads has grown into full estates and gated communities, complete with security and other amenities. But the question remains: do these amenities include a swimming pool and the other luxury facilities you dream of in your new home?
What to Know Before Moving to the “Old Lake” — Ondiri, Kikuyu Neighborhood
Affordable Land Prices?
No, land and plots in Ondiri are not as cheap as in some other neighborhoods around Kikuyu. However, we can say they are way cheaper than in Westlands, which is only a few minutes’ drive away, and other Nairobi areas.
As I write this piece, a 50 x 100 plot in Ondiri is going for Ksh 4–7 million, depending on its proximity to Kikuyu town. The prices are even likely to climb further by year-end if some recently proposed initiatives come through.
Enhanced Transportation?
To get to my home here in Ondiri, one can use either the newly tarmacked Kikuyu-KAMANGU-NG’AMBA road (known to locals as Makeresha) or the official Ondiri Road (Kwa Ndeyani). Both were roads we dreaded using during rainy seasons, as they were completely impassable. But the ongoing Kikuyu Constituency urban development has seen both get tarmacked for smoother transiting.
Note:
- The official Ondiri Road tarmacking is yet to be completed. The engineer on that project seems to have taken a vacation around the K.A.G. Ondiri church.
- There’s also an interconnecting road along Ondiri Road (known as Kwa GG) that will connect you to the Kikuyu-KAMANGU-NG’AMBA road at the Tumaini Retreat Centre. I like to use this road during my weekly walks, sightseeing the extensive farm that used to be Ondiri Academy school and the modern condos opposite Ondiri Gardens. But I must warn you: this access road has a steep hill you must climb to join the flat part connecting to the main tarmac.
Stable Electricity?
Ondiri has had electricity for as long as I can remember, with power lines running through the entire neighborhood. The electricity is decently stable compared to a decade ago, as it doesn’t randomly go off as it used to. The KPLC team always posts (on their online pages) about planned maintenance, and they also address issues within hours—thanks to the KPLC Kikuyu town branch. The presence of these new wealthy homesteads has also helped.
Reliable Water Supply?
As I mentioned, landowners in Ondiri used to farm (many families still do). The area has more than enough water, as you can opt for either the Ondiri community water project, the Kikuyu water program, or borrow from one of the many neighbors with a personal borehole. Whichever you choose, the rates are considerably lower than the Ksh 3,000 I was paying in Nairobi rentals.
Fast Internet Connectivity?
Another critical amenity I can’t overlook is internet connectivity, which is also extensively available in Ondiri, Kikuyu. It started with small ISPs that would connect you for as low as KES 1,500 a month. But Safaricom fiber is also available throughout the neighborhood, with their terminal boxes installed in various locations. You just have to call the provider to confirm if the terminal near your home is vacant—this is very critical, as you can’t get connected if the terminal point is full.
Ondiri also has a strong reception for nearly every phone provider in Kenya—Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom. I personally use Airtel a lot, and I get full bars even while inside the house, thanks to the signal tower about 200 meters away.
UPDATE:
I’m now subscribed to Airtel 5G Smart Connect (since December 2025). I decided to test the service with the cheapest 15Mbps plan, but I’ve noticed it’s quite enough for my needs since i’m also using the 1500 Smarta Bundles.
For the 15Mbps Smart Connect plan, my devices record consistent 13 – 15Mbps download and upload speeds….
Proximity to Nairobi and Surroundings?
Well, many of us go to work in Nairobi or its surroundings. Thankfully, Ondiri, Kikuyu is about 19 km from Westlands, 27 km from the CBD, or 18 km from Karen. All these areas are a few minutes’ drive away using any of the fastest routes in the region—Waiyaki Way, Southern Bypass, Dagoretti Road, etc.
Access to Good Schools?
Despite its special name, Ondiri is still part of Kikuyu, home to various amazing schools for junior or senior education. Some names you must know include Kikuyu Township, Kidfarmaco School, Green Garden Schools, Damacrest Schools, St. Mary’s School, Makini Schools, Consolata School, and many others.
PCEA Ondiri has also recently established Wetland Ondiri School for junior schoolers. They also have an ongoing project for a senior school, though the completion date has not yet been established.
Accessible Places of Worship?
- Churches
Ondiri, Kikuyu, is home to various churches. For example, my home is within walking distance of Ondiri ACK Church, PCEA Church, and the Catholic Church. There is also the KAG Church and two other Protestant churches at different locations.
Please Note: These churches (and others) are also available in Kikuyu town, about 5 kilometers from Ondiri.
- Mosque
Ever heard of Karai Muslim? The name typically refers to our next-door village, about 1 kilometer away, which gets its name from the Swahili (Muslim) residents who own a big chunk of land there. The land has a mosque, rather small, but open to both locals and visitors.
Reliable Health Care Centers?
Living near a hospital is crucial for peace of mind (knowing that a healthcare facility is within reach) and for emergencies. Ondiri, Kikuyu is in proximity to LifeCare Multispeciality Hospitals, Akshar Health Care, Kuinns Park Medical Centre, PCEA Kikuyu Mission Area, St. Teresa Hospital Kikuyu, Oakwood Hospital, St. Peter’s – Muthiga, Life Point Hospital, and others.
Serene, Fresh Environment
Ondiri is a nice place to raise your family and escape the buzz of the town. It’s the reason I decided to come back home after a decade in one of Nairobi’s high-rise neighborhoods.
Despite its rapid urban development, Ondiri is still green—a beauty and a breath of fresh air. It’s a culture many newcomers have also adopted, planting trees, grass, and other vegetation around their homes, like my good friend, who has created this modern landscape design with a beautiful scenery of hybrid lawn grass (I think), Juniperus, and other beautification shrubs I can’t name. Every time I visit, the place gives me the sensation that I’m checking into one of those five-star luxury hotels with a scenic view.
Heightened Security?
Every location has its bad apples, and Ondiri is no different. However, we do have a local police station at the intersection of Kiongo’s access road and the main Kikuyu-KAMANGU-NG’AMBA road.
Various estates also have security guards now, either around the clock or in the evenings. But many don’t see the need and employ other security precautions instead.
As a new landowner in Ondiri, I’d also encourage you to join the various community groups available. It helps you interact with the natives, know your neighbors better, and be part of the day-to-day discussions involving the community.
2030 Urban Development Plan
Ondiri is among the neighborhoods covered in the 2021–2030 Kikuyu Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plan. In this plan, the local government hopes to transform the five wards into an “economically vibrant, livable sub-county with high standards of living.”
If you have seen that government plan, most of the proposed developments “to make Kikuyu a sustainable agro-based industrial and residential hub” have been achieved. Modern infrastructure (railway station, southern bypass), high-density urban housing, townhouses, and so on are everything we have witnessed in the past 5 years.
Local Leadership Initiatives
Our local government, specifically Kimani Ichung’wah, has been the pillar of all major developments around Kikuyu. Love or hate the guy, he is a big reason Ondiri has become a prime estate, thanks to the infrastructure he has facilitated.
For reasons I’m not going to say here, we may even soon have tarmacked interior access roads that connect to the main Kikuyu-KAMANGU-NG’AMBA road or the official Ondiri Road. Ondiri is also likely to become either an urban housing project or a posh townhouse estate. Hopefully, it’s the latter, as that’s what JOSFA HOMES targets to focus on when our funding comes through.
Freehold vs Leasehold vs Government Land
The lands in the Ondiri neighborhood are primarily freehold property, whereby you have unlimited rights to use and transfer them to heirs or interested buyers. Freehold lands are only subject to the annual land rates paid to the county government of Kiambu. Then, you get a freehold title deed after the transfer of ownership.
But when seeking to buy land in our next-door neighborhood (which some agents may refer to as Ondiri), you should be careful, as some of it is leasehold property or government-owned.
For leasehold lands, it basically means the government retains ownership of the land, and the landowners (or rather, leaseholders) must comply with the applicable terms. Some of these terms include renewal of the lease agreement and paying annual land rent. It also means you shouldn’t be sold these lands at the same rate as freehold ones, but during land transfer, you get a leasehold title deed.
Meanwhile, government lands are lands owned 100% by the government. A large part of our next-door neighborhood is government land previously designated for water catchment reserves. This land gives you no type of title deed during transfer. So, be careful with such land transactions—often characterized by super-cheap land plots.
Note: Our land surveyor partner tells us they (the Kiambu land surveyors’ board) have a petition in court fighting for the removal of annual land rates for freehold lands. Though they claim victory, ensure the land you buy has all the pending land rates cleared.
Available Public Sewer Systems?
Modern homes now come with built-in bathrooms, so no more rushing out (mostly behind the house) as we used to. But these indoor bathrooms require a wastewater management system to get this “wastewater” out of the house.
Unfortunately, Ondiri—like Kikuyu and its other neighborhoods—has no public sewer system from the municipality. While this means no consistent utility bills, it will require having your own septic tank (or biodigester system) for on-site wastewater disposal or treatment.
Nearby Malls and Shopping Hubs?
Unfortunately, neither Ondiri nor Kikuyu has a mega mall for extensive shopping, relaxation, and all those fun activities you desire. If you feel the need to blow off steam by watching a movie, bowling, or engaging in other fun activities, we usually have to drive to Westlands, Karen, or Ngong Road.
Here, we only have a shopping hub, with the multi-storey Kikuyu market, supermarkets (Fairmat, Cleanshelf, and others), coffee shops, Safaricom Care, a Nyama Choma zone, and various other small businesses.
Get In Touch for Other Queries
In a nutshell, this is everything I can think of about the things to know before moving to Ondiri, Kikuyu. I’m sure there are others I have forgotten to mention, but feel free to ask. We are available online and via phone 24/7.
If you like the various amenities our neighborhood—Ondiri—is offering but haven’t found good land to settle in yet, get in touch with us by calling 0111206245, Whatsapp, or contact us page, and we will connect you with the best deals available directly from the owners. At JOSFA HOMES, we’re true believers in “If You Can Dream It, You Can Live It.” We are here to make sure your land ownership process is as simple, efficient, and enjoyable as possible.