Lavington is a lush, up-market part of Nairobi. Thanks to plenty of trees and high price tags on property, the Estate has earned a reputation as a haven for the monied.
But beyond its flashy reputation, Lavington’s history is a fascinating one. It begins with the Catholic church and entangles with colonial times when racial segregation was rife. Lavington was annexed as a prime area to live from its very formation and continues to be the estate of choice for many who reside there.
Catholic Roots
In the 19th century, Lavington was home to the St. Austin’s mission of the French Holy Ghost Fathers. These missionaries initially set up along the East African coast with the hopes of fighting against the slave trade and converting as many as possible to the catholic faith. Due to minimal success in their evangelical mission on the coast, the brothers travelled to Nairobi where they made arrangements to acquire land. They settled on a parcel of land located in what we now know as Muthangari – an area of Lavington.
Catholic officials from the brotherhood came together to form a new church. Bishop Emile Allgeyer, Father Alain Hemery and Brother Blanchard Dilenseger founded the Catholic Church in Lavington on 12th August 1899. While there, the missionaries experimented and planted the first coffee trees in 1900. St. Austin’s Mission was the area’s name due to the presence of missionaries.
Although the entirety of the area where the missionaries settled is now referred to as Lavington, it used to be referred to as Bernard Estate. Bernard Estate is West of James Gichuru Road. These days, it contains landmarks such as Jaffery’s Sports Club and the Lavington Curve.
Today, the St. Austin’s parish stands as a proud remnant of the catholic church that was there at the very genesis of Lavington. The flourishing trees planted by the missionaries were an early indication of fertile land – an aspect that attracted white settlers to Lavington.
Colonialists come to Lavington
The 20 sq. kilometre land that Lavington sits on was initially set apart for white settler farmers to reside on. In fact, the name Lavington was devised by British colonialists who began to arrive in Kenya at the beginning of the 20th century. A famous British politician called Ralph Payne – the very first Baron of Lavington – inspired the estate’s name. The late Baron held the title of Governor of Leeward Islands and lived in the Lavington area of Wiltshire, England.
Due to racial segregation, only white Europeans inhabited areas like Lavington where fertile soils abounded. The year-round vegetation made it a prime area to farm and live. It also made areas like Lavington less prone to flooding unlike drier areas of Nairobi on lower ground. The abundance of trees and lack of flooding reduced the existence of disease-ridden mosquitoes. Lush with indigenous trees, the estate boasts a cooling ambience even today.
The Continuing Legacy of the Church
Lavington’s history with Christianity extends beyond its early Catholic roots. As Lavington burgeoned with settlers moving there in the 1950s, the need to meet their demand for a church became apparent.
At the time, Buchannan’s Kenya Estates were undertaking projects to grow Lavington. They were the makers of famous white and black Scottish whiskey. The alcohol makers granted two free plots for the building of a church as part of the development projects. One of the plots was reserved for Presbyterians and the other for Anglicans.
Still, building a church required far more resources than those on hand. Collaboration ensued between the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist communities. Despite the small number of Methodists in Nairobi at the time, they raised the most funds to propel the opening of the church.
On 4th June 1960, Kenyan Governor Sir Patrick Renison opened Lavington United Church. Given the collaboration between three different denominations to build the church that sits on two plots, the church caters for all three. It stands as a pillar of the Lavington community even today and is a beacon of inclusivity.
The Estate Today
These days, Lavington is a fairly quiet suburb. It has remained abundant with flora and one can often spot perfectly manicured hedges and flower gardens wrapped around residences. The Estate has no shortage of places to shop. Among the most notable shopping malls is Lavington Mall. The shopping centre contains restaurants, a supermarket, beauty salons and all the shops necessary for retail therapy. The mall also contains gems such as Kengele’s which has truly unmissable mouth-watering chicken.
With captivating history and serene surroundings, Lavington is certainly a neighbourhood of note.
Tell us about your experiences with Lavington. What makes it unique in your eyes? Share with us in the comments below!