Madaraka Estate was opened on Tuesday, 29th February 1972 by Jomo Kenyatta and is one of the Nairobi City Council’s oldest housing estates. The name Madaraka is Kiswahili for self-governance. These days, the estate is fondly referred to as Madaa – a shortened name that is more well-known than the original. The Estate sits a mere 10 kilometres from the Nairobi CBD and has a whole host of landmarks that make it a beloved place of residence for many.
An Estate is born
In the early 1970s, rentals in Madaraka estate began as 2-to-3-bedroom units targeting middle-income residents. The City Council of Nairobi built these flats with loans from the National Housing Corporation (NHC) granted in 1958. Initially, there were 46 blocks of flats erected, each with at least 12 flats. By 1st June 1973, 600 families moved into the 408 3-bedroomed flats and 192 two-bedroomed flats.
But the birth of a new estate does not come without challenges. The City Council defaulted on the loans from the National Housing Corporation and were subsequently barred from collecting rent from Madaraka residents. Thereafter, the residents began paying rent to NHC rather than the City Council. Soon enough, reports surfaced about the NHC planning to sell off the flats in Madaraka, given their prime location, to private buyers. In 2009, the NHC put Madaraka up for sale.
Sporting Prowess at the Estate
The monumental Nyayo Stadium opened in 1983. With its proximity to the Madaraka Estate at about a kilometre distance, residents can easily visit to cheer on their favourite teams and sportspersons from the bleachers. The 30,000-capacity stadium is home to the AFC Leopards football team who play their home matches there.
In fact, Madaraka is home to star Kenyan football players like Mickey Weche who has played for the Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards. Footballers like him played at an open field in Madaraka Estate affectionately named ‘Spain’. The 1982 World Cup hosted in Spain inspired the field’s name. As a result of future Kenyan footballers playing on this field, passions were sparked that birthed legends.
Nyayo Stadium also houses Athletics Kenya. Its FIFA-approved football field, aquatic centre and indoor gymnasium have made it a natural hub for sports in Kenya. The stadium often hosts large national celebrations during holidays among other titillating sports events.
Strathmore University
In 1986, the face of Madaraka changed. The Government of Kenya donated 5 acres of land in Madaraka Estate for the construction of what we now know as Strathmore University. The Madaraka Campus project envisioned a co-educational campus where prospective students had the opportunity to study accounting as well as management. In September 1989, construction began at the new site and a new campus was born.
In 1993, the then Strathmore College merged with Kianda College to form Strathmore University. Kianda Foundation managed Kianda College at the time. The Foundation had an aim to improve access to education for girls in Kenya. As such, the College trained girls in secretarial work and business studies in a multiracial environment. Kianda took up the opportunity to offer its professional courses at the new Madaraka Campus.
The newly merged Kianda College and Strathmore College – then a Sixth Form College – moved to the new buildings on Ole Sangale Road. Today, Strathmore University has over 4,000 students – many of whom reside in the environs of Madaraka.
Madaraka as we know it
Madaraka is home to educational, health and sports landmarks. It is also home to the quaint pleasures that make it home to its residents. Siwaka, for example, is a building that seems to contain everything under the sun. Whether one fancies doughnuts baked to perfection or good old ugali and beef fry, all of it can be found here. In Siwaka, it is possible to visit a salon, buy groceries, find a flat to live in and top it all off by playing video games.
In all, Madaraka Estate is a captivating blend of the grand and the everyday. The allure of a smokie stand on a street corner comingles with the daunting, breath-taking Nyayo Stadium. It is truly a wonder and the place that many call home.
