Westlands

Westlands, nicknamed Westie by the youth of Nairobi, is arguably the most multi cultural area of Kenya often looking more like any place in one of the worlds leading capitals. Its an affluent, mixed-use commercial and residential neighborhood and the entertainment hub of Nairobi. Traditionally Nairobi’s social and entertainment centre for expatriates and wealthy Kenyans, its a lively cluster of shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs 3 km to the northwest of the central business district. Westlands is a favourite with Nairobi’s large Indian/Asian community. The residential roads ringing the busy hub are popular with Kenyans and expatriates, young singles who live in 1980s/1990s apartment blocks, as well as families in older houses, all attracted by the choice of facilities. Westlands was initially considered part of the Parklands area and straddled what is now Waiyaki Way, originally the Kenya Uganda Railway. Situated in Nairobi county, the constituency has an area of 3.2km and approximately 10000 inhabitants who are mostly expatriates. During 1990s and early 2000s more businesses relocated to the area because land and office space was readily available and less expensive. The 1st corporates to leave the CBD (Central Business District) went to westlands. The constituency includes parklands, kitisuru, highridge, kangemi, lavington and kilimani.