Kilimani | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 01°17′06″S 36°47′12″E / 1.28500°S 36.78667°E | |
Country | Kenya |
County | Nairobi City |
Sub-county | Westlands |
Elevation | 5,600 ft (1,700 m) |
Kilimani is a mixed-use commercial and residential neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. [1]
Kilimani is located approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) west of Nairobi's central business district, within Westlands Sub-county. [2] It is north of Woodley; east of Kileleshwa, mainly separated by the Kirichwa River; the larger Kilimani sub-location encompasses the part of Upper Hill (contains Hurlingham and Caledonia estates), and the Kilimani estates. [3]
The neighbourhood was established among other earliest neighbourhoods as a whites-only residential area by the British colonialists in earlier the 20th century. It was not until the 1960s when it was racially integrated. [4] The neighbourhood has historically been primarily low-density residential, but since 2000 has become increasingly high-density mixed residential and commercial; both retail and offices. [5] Some of the high-rise buildings have been built contrary to the county's bylaws and have been characterised as vertical slums due to them burdening the existing laid infrastructure. [6] [7] Residents of Kilimani and Kileleshwa have also raised concerns about the increasing number of nightclubs in the areas. [8]
In March 2024, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja proposed a re-zoning that would allow the construction of buildings up to 75 floors in Kilimani, Kilelelshwa, and Lavington. [9]
State House Nairobi, the official residence of the President of Kenya is located in Kilimani, on State House Road. [10]
(1) Kilimani Primary School, Milimani Primary School, St Hannah's School, St. Nicholas School, St Christophers School, Cavina School are all located in the neighborhood. [1] (2) The Lycée Denis Diderot, the French international school, is in Kilimani. It moved there in 1972. [11] (3) West Nairobi School, a Christian international school, opened in Kilimani in 1996 but moved to Karen in 2000. [12] (4) State House Girls' School is located on the grounds of State House Nairobi. [10] Svenska Skolan, the Swedish international school, is located in Kilimani. [13]
The headquarters of Sidian Bank are located on Wood Avenue in Kilimani. [14]
Adam's Arcade is the oldest shopping centre of its kind in neighbouring Woodley, Nairobi, Kenya, as well as East and Central Africa as a whole. Established in 1954 and completed in 1959 by Abdul Habib Adam. [15]
Yaya Centre, in Hurlingham, is a shopping mall with over 100 retail shops. [16]
The Nairobi Arboretum, featuring more than 300 exotic and indigenous tree species, is located in Kilimani, adjacent to State House. [17]