Today marks my third anniversary at my workplace. On 10th of September 2007, I started working with my employer.
It has been a journey full of ups and downs, twists and turns that have made it all interesting and worthwhile. However, the reason i am writing this post, which is partly inspired by this post is not to talk about my job or my employer for that matter! Its about living in Limuru.
Never in my fertile imagination had i ever thought i’d end up living in Limuru , or any other small town that is not my hometown.When you are in school , somehow you think you’ll be working in Nairobi!
Location
According to Wikipedia, Limuru is a town in central Kenya located on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley about 30 miles North-West from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
Weather
You have probably heard this but let me emphasize. Limuru IS cold. Sometimes it goes to less than 10 degrees which is a bit too cold for a country that does not experience winter. However it is not ALWAYS cold.
For most of the year, the weather is pleasant. It is never too hot because even in the very sunny days, there is a cool refreshing breeze. During rainy seasons it rains only at night three quarters of the time which i find amazing!
But it does get cold. The next year after my family and i moved to Limuru we all got sick. I remember one night i couldn’t breathe and i had to be rushed to the hospital. Only in Limuru have I had a doctor declare that i am asthmatic! WTH. I have never had asthma! No one in my family line has asthma. But how else do you explain chest pains when it gets a little bit too cold? Well, Limuru weather does that to you. Since then i have learnt how to dress for the weather and invested in a heat fan for the office. Someone once told me. “Hakuna ujanja ya baridi! ..labda kuvaa tu warm” (There is no other way of getting smart with the cold. You have to dress warmly” ).
This dressing for the weather is what has made us survive the cold. I have a particular dress code for my daughters which includes 2 vests + 2 tops +a sweater + a jacket. Dressing for the weather has sometimes meant throwing fashion outside the window which is not a big deal because this is shags, no one cares about fashion what is important is to remain healthy.
Language and Music
Say ndunyu and everyone will know what you are referring to. Ndunyu is Kikuyu for market. However, here it isn’t used to refer to just the vast open air market but the whole Limuru town. If you live here for some time, understanding (even speaking) Kikuyu will come naturally because 90 percent of the people living here speak kikuyu.
They say Kikuyu language is very musical. Kikuyu music just grows on you due to the thoughtful lyrics and catchy tunes. Some gospel songs whose lyrics i find quite hilarious are ‘Nyandikira SMS, Baba unjaririe..'( Father, write to me an SMS and talk to me…) and of course Mabataro where the singer bears the desires of his heart to God (which include mansions and big cars).
Perhaps Limuru’s finest in music is Jimmy Gait, he of the Muhadhara and Huratiti fame. I personally love his songs including one of his latest hits Sonko.
Business
..at ndunyu
Limuru town boasts a 3 star hotel, and 3 supermarkets one of which is quite large, even retailing in clothes and imported furniture.
There are at least 5 banks in the small town. The landmark of Limuru is definitely Bata Shoe Factory. Many Limuru residents work at the factory and if you came to Limuru at around lunch hour, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the hundreds of people you will meet going for lunch are from attending a big rally. The factory shop in Limuru is also a favorite spot especially for travelers passing by. All shoes here are sold at a discount.
Being a small town there are ‘market days’ : Wednesday and Saturday. That is when we get the freshest fruits and vegetables.
Fun
Here people love Nyama choma and there are lots of places to enjoy it, including the newly opened, very clean Fanta Butchery. 🙂
If you want to dance the evening away or just unwind as you catch a game then you have the option of Beehive, Memories, Hugs or Manga Corner all of which have DSTV connection.
Within a radius of 10 kilometers there are many fancy hotels and retreat centers. Worth of note are the St Benedicts Monastery retreat center , Brackenhurst, and the magnificent Kentmere Club where i had my wedding reception in 2008.
And how can i forget Limuru Golf and Country club? If Golf is your thing then you’ll be happy to discover the scenic Limuru Golf club.
- Martha Karua on the tee at the Limuru Golf club (Photo courtesy of Bata Golf Classic )
Culture and People
People here are business oriented and very often you will find children helping their parents to hawk this or sell that. Apart from that, they are quite friendly.
Education
Central province has the most National High schools if am not mistaken. I tend to think children here must have very high standards. Loreto Girls High School and Limuru Girls High are examples of very good schools in Limuru.
There is also the Limuru International school.
Transport
So Toyota Probox was designed for commercial use? That’s good because in Limuru they use it as a Passenger Service Vehicle and some passengers occupy the boot!
There are quite a number of motorbikes used as bodaboda and donkeys are commonly used for carrying cargo and are also used for food during meat shortages.
Environment
I love the environment here. It is simply green and beautiful! And if the kales in my backyard are anything to go by, then the soils are also very fertile!
This is the 2nd post I’ve read on your blog after the last one and I like it already. No matter the subject, it’s effortlessly written. Like swinging.
Thank you for coming back + your kind words. ‘..like swinging’. I like that. 🙂
Nice take! And coldturkey is right, love ur writing!
Thanks Joliea! Nice blog you have too. Very lively and interesting.
… I must admit I never miss reading your posts. I didn’t know this part of you and I must say ‘you are good’. Limuru is my mum’s home town. I love it there. Keep the good work coming.
Hey girl! Long time. Seems maisha ni mzuri that’s y u so quiet. I do write, for fun. Maybe to make up for my not being outspoken. Thanks for reading! See you around (online!)
Very interesting post. The strikethrough’d / struckthrough (mmh???) part got me LOLling 🙂
Hehe. Thanks. The strike-through feature is great for saying things you don’t want to be SUED for. lol
I love this site. I will be coming back as often as p. Can you imagine I got here from the Google’s 50th page of “esther arunga.” Lovely theme. I feel at home.
Whoops! Typo!
16yearold… You’ve got the longest username! 🙂 Many thanks. You are welcome again and again!
just read this post….a bit disappointed that you dedicated a whole post to Limuru and mentioned Donkeys just once!
@dcm. I appreciate you reading. Give another 3 years and i’ll do an entire post on Limuru Donkeys. Tickled me 🙂
awww, you’ve just made me want to go shaggz…the breeze is a welcome relief when hot…actually it’s that breeze that makes it quite chilly…okay..nimeanza kuongea mob…
love it. love it. love it.
Thanks, thanks thanks! I agree, its a great place. I like that it never gets too hot. The cool breeze ensures that it remains cool.
Nice piece.It makes one wanna visit the place.
I went to Loreto Limuru and I hope your daughters go there too. It’s an exemplary high school and made me who I am.
Limuru is beautiful, and the cold weather makes it more so. I remember I used to wear three sweaters all the time. So, do you live on a beautiful house on a rolling hill? That’s how I picture living in Limuru. Besides, it’s near Nairobi so you can consider it an estate of the city!
I hope so too. All I’ve seen and heard of Loreto is good!
My sister went there too. Now my niece is there (by brother’s kid) . She’s turning into a polite, respectful, courteous, God fearing, flawless-English speaking young lady…am impressed.
I am company-housed. And Yes, its beautiful! Not on a hill though. I see you get the picture well. Limuru is one of the Nairobi Suburbs.
u brought out limuru just as it appears coz thats where i was born and grew up from.nice flow
Thanks Kihika. Am glad you found the info credible given that that’s your hometown.
Hallo Mrs Mwiti,
Great blog you got here and an amazing post you’ve written about Limuru, my second home. Got me homesick 🙁 Sasa now Savvy Kenya already got here before me and invited you to Kotet, wonder if you have another daughter I can invite to my school Chox 🙂
I’m very envious you’re enjoying the great atmosphere in Limuru and try out the chicken from Kenchic at Kamonde you won’t regret it.
I’ll definitely be coming back, till then.
Tiguo thayu.
Hi,this is very nice .I can relate to it 100%…..
Thanks @Lallesh U must be a mwenyeji..
@Cee wonder if the weather is as pleasant in chox though. Strong sun would be bad for my tusupuus complexions 🙂 Must try that chicken.
@Vaite. Karibu sana!
It’s time I let the cat out of the bag! ……Am your new next door neighbour.So now you kinder know who introduced me to your blog.I also TRY to write ,’AKA’ I call it ,putting my feelings on paper as I don’t talk alot but I can write down pages of what am feeling or that which is under my surrounding……..So I hope to learn alot from you.
Aha! Great to meet you online. You know we are living in the 21st century when we meet online first then offline. Its great to have you as my neighbour. Karibu!
Here is to our neighborliness online & offline 🙂
Thank’s Gal, I appreciate!!..
Loved this aswell because my brother and my best friend moved to Tigoni (near Kentmere) a 2 months ago and I love spending time there! The fresh breeze and smell of tea never gets old.
I should tell him his daughters must go to chox and or Kortet!
We are spending christmas at his farm house..Cannot wait!
Mrs Mwiti
This is so interesting ..I’ve loved it!! one day you’ll ask me a question i reckon,:-”what will you ever say you don’t know?” please don’t ,I worked in (Tigoni) Limuru for 3yrs,and I got all the picture of the cold you’re talking about which i thought was WINTER and would drop me dead..
Before learning how to dress and (i quote you) throwing fashion through the window,i sed to a whole cycle of homa,kihuti,flu,cold..name it! iwould start with sore throat,followed by tonsillitis,there after,coughing not forgeting,blocked nose and headaches..i decided to be dressing like an onion my dear..
You’re having fun now when everybody is complaining in Kenya…. As you explained about ndunyu,i was laughing alone … have fun !!!!!!!! xx
Been reading you posts since a friend sent me a link some time back. Nice blog you have. Am from Limuru and even though i no longer live there, the cold still sends shivers down my spine. the way you dress your daughters reminds me of them days – school uniforms had to be several sizes bigger to accomodate the many other clothes to be worn! And you wouldn’t even know children were in school uniform until the headmaster ordered all jackets/homesweaters off! Great place though, enjoy your stay…
@Wangari @Mercy very much appreciate ur comment. For all the bliss and clean air, we get all sorts of cold issues but at least tumezoeazoea sasa.. 🙂
Thanks Wa Wandu. Had a lol moment reading your comment…
“And you wouldn’t even know children were in school uniform until the headmaster ordered all jackets/homesweaters off.” 😀
I recently bumped into your blog and i love it!! i spend lunch time at the office going through your older posts.
Anyway, i wish to live in Limuru…i have always said that to my mum and my fiance and they all think i am crazy because of the cold! but i love it there especially the nice green thick grass that just grows wildly!!
currently looking for land to buy there any pointers?
Thanks ma’am!
Limuru is sooo beautiful and green, and yet, very close to Nairobi. It’s a wonderful place to live.
About land, I may not have any pointers but I know the Limuru Facebook page is very active. You can get some useful information there. All the best . 🙂
Today I stumbled over your blog as I googled ‘weather in Limuru’. Very much enjoyed this post about Limuru! And afterwards I read many more of your blog postings and liked them just as much. We will be moving from Nairobi to Tigoni at the end of the year and it’s great to get some tips ahead of our coming!
Love ur blog plus your posts..
Thank you Margie. 🙂
your post takes me back to them days growing up in limuru, funny thing i never thought it was cold i just thought Nairobi was too hot, we used to wear flimsy shirts and shorts and spend all the time outdoors , used to love July because of of the mist and fog : the we could play hide and seek in the mist, i still go there most weekends to jog thru the pcturesque tea plantations starting from either Tigoni stores or the Gulf petrol Station at Tigoni shopping center
Beautiful memories those are.
Playing hide and seek in the mist. 😀
Hey Mrs. Mwiti, i came across your blog as i was looking for information to add on an post for my blog. I moved to Limuru last year and so i was thinking about doing a piece on that. I absolutely love your article. It captured everything that perfectly describes Limuru. I look forward to reading the rest of your posts as well. Thumbs up.
Thanks Diana. Karibu sana to my blog! We should probably hook up for a cup of TEA now that we are both Limurians. 🙂 See you around!
Hi Mrs Mwiti,
This is one of the best blog meant for Kenyans. You have a very rich info congratulation.
I would like to enquire about St Benedictines Monestry. Tigoni Limuru retreat center… their services and the charges to be there.. are you in the position to answer me?
hi!i read bikos blog and sometimes see your comments there i decided to read your blog,i must say its very nice.limuru is a beautiful place i work there too,just near benedict where you had your wedding,at the hospital.it is cold too.
im happy i discoverd your blog.good work.
i know this post is old,but its the one i saw first
Hello neighbor! Thank you for passing by. I have so neglected this blog these days :(! But there is a lot to catch up on.
Karibu & Please take a walk around.
Hi…am even more eager to visit Limuru. This was the right place to check out about Limuru…i would like to have a shamba over there….eve a ka 1/8..
Ever green catches me most…
I like the details and specifity of your writing
Thank you so much Carol. 🙂 You are right about the green scenery….it is one of the most spectacular. Good luck getting the ka 1/8! Though people here are said to like to want to hold onto their land rather than sell it….
That was an interesting read.You sure made me laugh.I appreciate the humour.
Am Impressed by this post…
I am a journalist currently doing a feature on Limuru, was looking for some background info when I stumbled on this post. Do you mind if I quote you in my feature?
Thanks. I don’t mind at all if you give credit.