Ngata area has always found itself in the media headlines for the wrong reasons. This is due to the many tragic accidents that have occurred around Ngata bridge area along the Nakuru –Eldoret highway.

But did you know the area is one of the highly sought after destinations for residential homes.

Located at the periphery of Nakuru city, Ngata is the home to some of the who is who in Kenya including the Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, former retired President Daniel Moi’s Press Secretary Lee Njiru and his personal secretary John Lokorio among others.

Furthermore, Ngata area harbors some of the best hotel and tourism destinations in Nakuru county.

Currently Ngata is among the places in Nakuru county where one will have to cough a substantial amount to acquire a property.

This is contrary to what the place was a few decades ago when it used to be a vast tract of land.

Ngata farm was one of the farms bought from European settlers and set aside for research and development in animal and crop husbandry by the government.

The more than 1000 acres of land was later transferred from the Department of Settlement to the Agricultural Development corporation where it was put under wheat farming.

Its subdivision began in 1979 where a directive from the head of state saw the land subdivided and part of it sold to individuals’ majority who were close allies of the former president Moi.

Some of the beneficiaries include squatters, the African Inland Church and to a number of politicians and bigwigs in the Kanu government. The land was sold in tens and hundreds of acres from which the beneficiaries put it under agriculture.

Mr Charles Mutai who is a resident of the estate said he bought his parcel of land in 1995 when it was underdeveloped. An acre of land according to Mr Mutai went for between sh 200,000 and 300,000.

“By then the area did not have proper infrastructure and not many people had interest in acquiring it,” said Mr Mutai.

However, two decades later, Ngata is one of the prime properties in the county and attracting interest from across the country.

The area boasts of a number of educational and entertainment facilities including the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology, the Lord Egerton castle-the major tourists’ attraction center Schools hotels among other facilities.

opendajoseph@gmail.com

The Changing Face of Ngata Estate

Author Spotlight

Joseph Openda