Growing demand for housing in Othaya has led to high rent charges making it the most expensive town in Nyeri county. This is according to James Kanyi of Allaken Marketing Services, a property and housing agent in Othaya town.
Mr Kanyi observed that house rent have skyrocketed, beating charges in bigger towns like Karatina and Nyeri. This has been attributed to operationalising of Othaya Level 6 Hospital and ongoing construction works in the constituency.
The town has witnessed a rise in population in the last four years, with over 1,000 hospital staff and hundreds of construction workers moving there, leading to a rise in the demand for housing. The hospital was constructed during retired President Kibaki’s tenure but opened to patients last year.
Ranging rent prices
“The competition for the few available houses has also pushed land prices up. People coming to work in the town are forced to rent houses in the neighbouring Kiria-ini town in Murang’a County about 10 km away or take up unoccupied houses in rural areas of Othaya,” said Mr. Kanyi.
A one-bedroom house that went for Sh1,500 and 2,000 some 10 years ago is now going for between Sh10,000 and Sh12,000 while a modern two-bedroom house that went for between Sh2,500 and Sh3,500 around the same period is going for between Sh13,000 and 20,000 depending on when the house was constructed.
A bedsitter rent has increased from between Sh1,000 and Sh1,500 to between Sh6,000 and Sh8,000 over the same period. Newly constructed buildings are the most expensive. This is unlike in Nyeri town, the county’s headquarters, where a one-bedroom house goes for about Sh7,000 with a two-bedroom costing between Sh10,000 and Sh12,000 in rent depending on location. A bedsitter in Nyeri town goes for between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000.
Moving to neighbouring towns
“Othaya is more expensive than even some estates in Nairobi which is the country’s capital city. There is fear that the demand will further rise after the completion of the Kenya Medical Training College – Othaya campus – which will, upon completion, have a capacity of over 1,000 students and staff. People will start contemplating moving to neighbouring towns if the situation doesn’t improve soon,” said Kanyi.
For land, a 50 by 100 plot that in the year 2000 cost between Sh 100,000 and Sh 350,000 has risen to between Sh 1.5 million and Sh5 million while an acre of land within the proposed municipality is going for between Sh 14 million and Sh24 million depending on the location.
However, on investor’s side, it is a celebration to them saying the increase in rent has improved their income. Othaya MP Gichuki Mugambi says the town, which was initially targeted to hold a population of 4,000, is on a growth trajectory and it is targeted that 5,000 homes will come up in the next 15 to 20 years.
