As many kenyans started entering the middle and upper middle classes, they found a home in Runda as:-
1.
Plots then were cheaper and,
2.
One could buy smaller plots and build as opposed to Karen, Lavington and other upscale areas which had stringent approval rules.
The area occupied by Runda Estate was once a large coffee estate owned by various firms with 3 coffee processing factories.
All this started changing in 1972 after the United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters were built in Gigiri in the early 1970s.
Runda became an upscale living estate, mainly targeting UN staffers.
It has large modern houses on big plots and excellent security due to the presence of the UN and many embassies.