Formerly an Indian settlement, Shabab estate has slowly turned into a favourite for Nakuru's middle-class population.

Located within Nakuru West sub county, the estate has been known for many things over the years.

Some of these identities have been; the estate close to Nakuru's industrial area, the estate with the best mechanics in town, the estate with the oldest matatus and the estate with the highest number of student hostels.

A section of Shabab estate in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: DILIGENCE ODONGO/MTAA WANGU

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Upon visiting Shabab, you instantly notice how lively and active this estate is with lots of young people walking about.

With the large number of students inhabiting the area comes the flourishing of businesses such as movie shops, barber and beauty shops, cyber cafes, chemists, boutiques and food vibandas.

John Kiama, a Shabab resident shares, "After living here for so long, I've witnessed the estate slowly become the youth's favourite. Most of them happen to be of the lower middle class, as they're just beginning life."

"A young and growing population is indeed profitable to business in this area," the elderly businessman notes before adding, "However, with this population come the mushrooming of drinking joints that attract rowdy university students that at times bring chaos to the area."

While refuting claims of Shabab being a lower middle class estate, Beryl Deng, another resident notes, "I'd say the estate attracts both the lower and upper middle class since rent here ranges between 6,500kshs for a bedsitter to as high as 40,000 for maisonette and townhouses."

Most of the roads in Shabab estate are tarmacked.

Photo credit: DILIGENCE ODONGO/MTAA WANGU

Speaking on her experience of living in Shabab, Mrs.Deng cites that her best things about the estate are its close proximity to the CBD and affordability.

Noting the challenges they face as Shabab residents, she shares, "The biggest challenge is insecurity given how close Shabab is to Rhonda and Kaptembwa, which are some of Nakuru's biggest slums."

Also seconding the insecurity issue, Kramer Aler went on to list two more challenges sharing, "Specifically where I live, there's water shortage and noise pollution from the surrounding hardware shops and garages."

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Regardless of the challenges he faces, Mr. Kramer went on to refer to 'Shabe' as a great estate citing it's close proximity to town and the availability of amenities such as hospitals/clinics, schools, churches/mosque, a supermarket and his favourite amenity, a football pitch.

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My Hood: Shabab estate, a darling for young adults in Nakuru

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