Quiet residential pocket between Kilimani and Lavington
- 2BR from
- KES 160,000
- Yield
- 8.3%
- Occupancy
- 82.7%
| Neighbourhood | Type | Monthly rent (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Westlands | Studio | KES 95,000 |
| Westlands | 1 Bedroom | KES 145,000 |
| Westlands | 2 Bedroom | KES 235,000 |
| Westlands | 2 Bedroom | KES 285,000 |
| Westlands | 3 Bedroom | KES 320,000 |
| Westlands | Penthouse | KES 620,000 |
| Kilimani | Studio | KES 85,000 |
| Kilimani | 1 Bedroom | KES 155,000 |
| Kilimani | 2 Bedroom | KES 245,000 |
| Kilimani | 2 Bedroom | KES 205,000 |
| Kilimani | 3 Bedroom | KES 355,000 |
| Kileleshwa | 1 Bedroom | KES 125,000 |
| Kileleshwa | 2 Bedroom | KES 195,000 |
| Kileleshwa | 3 Bedroom | KES 295,000 |
Dense, walkable, young-professional heartland
A furnished two-bedroom in Kilimani typically rents for KES 200,000–320,000/month in August 2026.
Kilimani is one of eighteen Nairobi neighbourhoods we cover for furnished rentals. Below are the real price bands, the market numbers, the commute times, and how to get verified options for the area.

The numbers
Rental yield
Gross, area average
Occupancy
Furnished stock
Safety rating
Resident-reported
5
Indexed blocks
Kilimani is the most intensively redeveloped residential zone in Nairobi. Its old quarter-acre plots have been replaced, block by block, with eight-to-twenty storey apartment towers, which means supply here is deeper than anywhere else in the city and negotiation is genuinely possible. Argwings Kodhek, Lenana and Ngong Roads frame the area; Yaya Centre and Prestige Plaza handle everyday shopping; Nairobi Hospital and The Nairobi West Hospital are close for anyone who cares about medical proximity. Cytonn's serviced-apartment tracking puts Kilimani at roughly 8.6% rental yield with occupancy near 78.2%, softer than Westlands because the supply pipeline keeps arriving. For tenants that is good news: furnished one- and two-bedroom units with backup power, gym, pool and 24-hour security sit in a competitive band, and landlords will often include water and internet to close a longer lease. The tenant mix is the youngest in this price bracket. NGO staff, tech workers, consultants, and a steady flow of one-to-six-month stays. Traffic on Argwings Kodhek at 8am is the main daily complaint, and street parking is effectively gone, so confirm a dedicated bay.
Source: Knight Frank Kenya market reporting, HassConsult Property Index, Cytonn Real Estate research, and verified landlord submissions.
| Metric | Data Point | Source / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Rental Yield | 8.6% | Cytonn serviced-apartment research |
| Avg. Occupancy | 78.2% | Cytonn / Knight Frank Kenya |
| Avg. Service Charge | KES 4,200 / sqm | Landlord submissions, monthly |
| Most Common Amenities | Backup Generator, Borehole, Fibre, Swimming Pool, 24-hour Security | Verified from indexed blocks |
| Drive Time to CBD (Off-Peak) | 18 mins | Off-peak road timing |
| Drive Time to UN Gigiri | 30 mins | Off-peak road timing |
| Safety Rating | 4/5 — manned gates standard | Resident-reported + inspection notes |
Kilimani at 07:30 is a queue of cars nosing out of tower gates onto Argwings Kodhek, and by 20:00 it is quiet enough to hear the crickets between blocks. Nowhere in Nairobi has changed faster: quarter-acre plots replaced by eight-to-twenty storey towers, sometimes four to a street, with the last few old bungalows behind hoardings.
The youngest tenant mix in this price bracket. NGO and development staff, tech workers, consultants, and a large flow of one-to-six month stays. Sharers are common in two-bedroom units, which is why all-ensuite layouts let fastest.
Argwings Kodhek, Lenana Road and Ngong Road frame the area. Matatu routes 46 and 102 serve Ngong Road into the CBD. Argwings Kodhek at Hurlingham is the fixed morning jam from about 07:15, and the Yaya junction backs up again from 17:00.
Kilimani Primary, Nairobi Academy and several private options sit close, with the Lycée Denis Diderot about ten minutes away in Lavington. The Nairobi Hospital on Argwings Kodhek is under ten minutes and is the default private hospital for most international insurance schemes.
Yaya Centre for groceries, tailoring and the Saturday crowd; Prestige Plaza on Ngong Road for Naivas and cinema; Adlife Plaza for pharmacy and clinics. Kilimani's restaurant density along Lenana and Kirichwa is second only to Westlands.
Nearest mall: Yaya Centre. Nearest major hospital: The Nairobi Hospital. Off-peak drive to the CBD: about 18 minutes.
Rated well on practical tenant safety, with manned gates and CCTV standard in newer towers. Street parking has effectively disappeared, and vehicle break-ins are the most commonly reported issue, a controlled basement bay matters here.
Cytonn puts Kilimani around 8.6% rental yield with occupancy near 78.2%, softer than Westlands specifically because the supply pipeline keeps delivering. For tenants that means genuine negotiating room, particularly on twelve-month leases.
Source: Cytonn Real Estate research, Knight Frank Kenya and HassConsult Property Index.
From the inspector's margin
What it costs
| Type | Monthly rent from (KES) | Monthly rent to (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 70000 | 110000 |
| 1 Bedroom | 130000 | 200000 |
| 2 Bedroom | 200000 | 320000 |
| 3 Bedroom | 300000 | 450000 |
| 4 Bedroom | 400000 | 620000 |
| Penthouse | 480000 | 750000 |
Service charge in Kilimani averages around KES 4,200 per square metre per month. Walk score 82/100.
WhatsApp us with your requirements and we'll send verified options in Kilimani within the hour.
WhatsApp: I need an apartment in KilimaniOr call +254 754 271 196
| Area | 2BR from | Yield | Occupancy | Walk score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilimani | KES 200,000 | 8.6% | 78.2% | 82/100 |
| Kileleshwa | KES 160,000 | 8.3% | 82.7% | 62/100 |
| Lavington | KES 180,000 | 8.3% | 82.7% | 55/100 |
| Upper Hill | KES 185,000 | 9.2% | 81% | 71/100 |
| Ngong Road | KES 110,000 | 8.8% | 80% | 68/100 |
Quiet residential pocket between Kilimani and Lavington
Established, leafy, quietly expensive
Corporate tower district with a small residential core
Long transport spine with dense mid-market apartments
Studio: KES 70,000-KES 110,000; 1 Bedroom: KES 130,000-KES 200,000; 2 Bedroom: KES 200,000-KES 320,000; 3 Bedroom: KES 300,000-KES 450,000; 4 Bedroom: KES 400,000-KES 620,000; Penthouse: KES 480,000-KES 750,000. Ranges are compiled from Knight Frank Kenya, HassConsult and Cytonn research plus verified landlord submissions, and are updated monthly.
We rate Kilimani 4 out of 5 on practical tenant safety, based on the type of security typical in the area's housing stock, manned gates, perimeter security and estate or building-level patrols are standard here. Always check perimeter, lighting, guard rota and alarm response with the owner or their appointed representative before you commit.
Yaya Centre: 1.1 km, about 5 minutes by car. Nairobi Hospital: 2.6 km, about 10 minutes by car. Upper Hill offices: 3 km, about 12 minutes by car. Nairobi CBD: 4.5 km, about 18 minutes by car. Peak-hour times can be significantly longer.
In newer blocks, a generator, borehole and water storage tanks are standard rather than optional, and service charge reflects that. In older stock it varies. Ask specifically about generator capacity, borehole yield and tank size, in Kilimani the monthly charge averages around KES 4,200 per square metre.
Ask for national ID or company registration and proof of ownership (title deed, allotment letter or a head lease allowing sublet). If you are dealing with an appointed representative, ask for their signed management agreement or letter of authority. View in person or on live video. Pay the owner or their appointed representative directly, never a third party 'holding' the unit. Every listing we publish goes through our 7-point verification, and we re-verify every 90 days.
More than anywhere else in Nairobi. Occupancy near 78% and a constant supply pipeline mean landlords will move on price, bundle utilities, or offer a rent-free period on a twelve-month lease.
Yes. Fibre coverage is near-universal, most newer blocks have generators, and Ikigai, Nairobi Garage and several cafés with reliable power sit within a short drive.
Argwings Kodhek at 07:15-09:00 and the Yaya junction from 17:00 are the two consistent problems. Living on the Kirichwa or Dennis Pritt side and exiting toward Lenana avoids the worst of it.
Tell us your budget and move-in date and we'll come back on WhatsApp with what actually exists in Kilimani right now.