After independence, Kenya was eager to showcase its national capabilities on a global stage. No time was wasted in becoming a United Nations member state on 16th December 1963. In 1965, a year before the establishment of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Kenya launched a bid to host its headquarters in Nairobi, albeit unsuccessfully.  

 

Founding of UNEP 

In 1972 another UN body was created. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) invited member states to place their hosting bids. Kenya was not left out of the conversation, pointing out the exclusion of the Global South from hosting any UN headquarters and demanding for equity. This persistence paid off when the bid was officially adopted on 15th December 1972. Thus Kenya became the first nation outside of Europe and North America to host a UN headquarters. 

UNEP set up its initial offices at the Kenya International Conference Center in October 1973. The need for new premises came about as the organization grew. The government donated 100 acres of land in Gigiri to facilitate construction of a new complex. With construction completed in 1975, UNEP moved into the premises that it occupies to date. With new jobs created at the HQ, the need for housing close to the complex became apparent.  

 

Changing Times 

The stretch of land between present day Kiambu Road and Limuru Road once had an expansive coffee plantation established in the early 1900s by Frenchmen Felix Piat and Jules Favre. They named it St. Benoist Plantation, until the 1950s when purchased by Englishman P. Slater. The name changed to Cheleta Farm, the local pronunciation of the word Slater.  

Ownership of the land changed again in the 1960s when sold to three coffee co-operatives that renamed it Runda Coffee Estates. In 1971, Mae Properties purchased Runda Coffee Estates for housing development. The name Mae was an acronym derived from the names of the three co-founders: Eliud Mathu, Andrew Zagoritis and Elia Zagoritis. 

 

Satisfying the Demand 

Between 1972 and 1980, Mae Properties constructed the first phase of Runda, now referred to as Old Runda, with 50 houses set on one or two acres of land. To commemorate the legacy of the three Mae co-founders, three roads within the neighbourhood were named after each of them. UN employees quickly occupied these residences and the demand for more houses set in.  

In 1988, the Kenya Commercial Bank began developing the second phase, New Runda Estate, on half acre plots. Construction completed in 1992 and the houses went up for sale. In subsequent years, other housing developers also got a slice of the pie by developing other phases of this neighbourhood including Runda Mimosa, Runda Evergreen, and Runda Mumwe.   

The Evolution of Runda 

At present, Runda Estate covers a vast 600 acres of land, with individual phases boasting a gated community. Certain reminders of Runda’s past continue to exist and thrive such as Cheleta Primary School, built in the 1950s by Mr. Slater for his plantation workers’ children.  

The ambience is as serene as ever, with nearby Karura Forest offering nature trails that allow residents to enjoy a walk, a run or a bike ride. Fine dining restaurants dot the vicinity and give all those who visit a chance to sample the high life.  

Over to you, watu wa Runda. Tell us, what do you remember from visiting or growing up in this neighbourhood?  

#MitaaYetu #HistoryOfRunda