Mawanga estate is populated by young tenants, majority of whom are bachelors .

Here, you can rent a house from Sh 3,000 to Sh 8,000 depending on whether it’s a single room, a bedsitter or a one bedroom.

Residents say the estate's name was derived from a shop belonging to Mary Wangari, which she named Mawanga; a combination of her two names.

The shop was one of the first few establishments at the centre.

Several churches and social amenities such as bars and Nyama Choma joints are now coming up in the estate.

When Mtaa Wangu visited the area, we met Joseph Ngugi- a resident who runs a barber and movie shop.

Joseph Ngugi attends to a client at his barber shop in Mawanga centre.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI| MTAA WANGU

The youthful Ngugi admits that for a bachelor, Mawanga estate is the place to be as it is pocket friendly.

Ngugi is quick to note that the estate has continued to develop and is now attracting investors.

A spot check reveals several modern apartments coming up.

This, Ngugi says is worrying as it might cause an increase in the rent.

“Here, everything is cheap from rent to food and that is why the majority of the tenants here are young people,” says Ngugi.

Kelvin Ogutu who runs a furniture workshop just opposite Mawanga estate reveals that unlike before when Mawanga was undeveloped, things are now different with land subdivisions having taken place.

“This place was undeveloped. But currently we are seeing changes and in future this will be a posh estate,” says Ogutu.

One of the streets in Mawanga estate.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI| MTAA WNAGU

Besides the development being witnessed, the estate has also had challenges in equal measure.

The affordable houses have been attracting an increasing number of young people who are allegedly involved in criminal activities across the County.

It will be recalled that a section of locals in the past have raised alarm after it was claimed that some criminal groupings were being harboured in Mawanga.

The killings of several women and young girls in Nakuru a year ago was also attributed to the same.

The irony is that the challenges of insecurity are rampant in Mawanga yet the estate is surrounded by several police posts, among them Workers, Teachers and Kiugoini.

pmambili@gmail.com

My Hood: Why Mawanga estate is a favourite for bachelors

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Pristone Mambili