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Kileleshwa
Kileleshwa
	Kileleshwa Location of Kileleshwa in Kenya
	Coordinates: 01°16′37″S 36°47′35″E / 1.27694°S 36.79306°E
Country	Kenya
County	Nairobi City
Sub-county	Westlands
Area
• Total	5.3 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
Population (2019)
• Total	22,216
• Density	4,229/km2 (10,950/sq mi)

Kileleshwa is a residential neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. It is located approximately 5.2 kilometres (3 mi) from Nairobi's central business district. The neighbourhood was originally a low-density leafy suburb but after a change in zoning regulations in the early 2000s, there has been significant mushrooming of high-rise flats in the area. It hosts mainly the upper middle class segment of Nairobi residents.

Location

Kileleshwa is located approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) west of Nairobi's central business district, within the larger sub-county of Westlands. It is east of Lavington; south of Muthangari, and west of Kilimani, mainly separated by the Kirichwa River.

Overview

Kileleshwa hosts a significant population of the upper middle income population of Nairobi.^[2] The neighbourhood has historically been primarily low-density residential, but since the early 2000s, Kileleshwa and its environs have become increasingly high-density mixed residential and commercial; both retail and offices, due to the zoning laws in the area being changed.^[3]^[4]^[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]

Kileleshwa, an electoral ward within the Dagoretti North Constituency, borrows its name from the estate, encompassing other estates and neighbourhoods such as: Chiromo, Groganville, Kileleshwa, Muthangari and Riverside.^[10]

As per the 2019 census, Kileleshwa had a population of 22,216, with a population density of 4,229/km² in a land area of 5.3km².^[1]

Real Estate Trends

Over the past two decades, Kileleshwa has experienced rapid urbanisation, marked by a surge in high-rise apartment buildings. Originally a low-density area, zoning law adjustments in the early 2000s allowed for more intensive development.^[11] This has led to mixed reactions from residents, with some appreciating the area's accessibility while others decry the strain on local infrastructure.^[2] The proliferation of high-rise flats has also significantly impacted property values, making Kileleshwa a popular residential area for upper-middle-class residents.^[3]