Editing Kitengela

{{Short description|Plain in Kenya, close to Nairobi}}
{{Use Kenyan English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| official_name                   = Kitengela
| other_name                      = 
| native_name                     = 
| nickname                        = "Kite," Dusty South, Dustbowl County (DC), Triple K (Kitengela, Kajiado, Kenya)
| settlement_type                 = 
| motto                           = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = Kitengela.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Kitengela
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_map                       = 
| mapsize                         = 
| map_caption                     = 
| pushpin_map                     = Kenya
| pushpin_label_position          = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Kenya
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Kenya}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Counties of Kenya|County]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Kajiado County]]
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = 
| subdivision_type4               = 
| subdivision_name4               = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Metric <!--Enter: Metric, if Metric (Imperial) is desired-->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 
| area_land_km2                   = 
| population_as_of                = 2009
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 154,436<ref name="Kenyanwallstreet.com">{{cite web |title=Census 2019 data shows Kenya has a Youthful Rural Population |date=2019 |url=https://kenyanwallstreet.com/census-2019-datashows-kenya-has-a-youthful-rural-population/ |access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| timezone                        = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset                      = +3
| coordinates                     = {{coord|1|31|S|36|51|E|region:KE|display=inline}}
| elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
}}

'''Kitengela''' is a municipality in the Kajiado County of Kenya, located 34 Kilometres south of the capital [[Nairobi]], forming part of the greater Metropolitan Area. Kitengela began as The Kitengela group ranch, made up of 18,292 ha and 214 registered members which was subdivided in 1988 in efforts by the Government to encourage private land ownership in pastoral systems. This had the aim of intensifying and commercializing livestock production. After subdivision of the group ranch, land fragmentation and sales have continued at a steady and escalating pace. The human population within the Kitengela area has more than doubled in the last 10 years, from 6548 in 1989 to 17,347 in 1999 to 58,167 in 2009. There is also a town named '''Kitengela''' in the area.

Close to [[Nairobi National Park]] is also the [[Kitengela Game Conservation Area]] populated with [[Cape buffalo|buffalo]], [[Masai giraffe]], [[eastern black rhino]], [[Common eland]], [[impala]], [[Grant's gazelle|Grant's]] and [[Thomson's gazelle]], common [[waterbuck]] and [[Defassa waterbuck]], [[hippopotamus]], [[common warthog]], [[olive baboon]], [[monkey]]s and the attendant [[carnivore]]s – [[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], [[spotted hyena]], [[Southern cheetah|cheetah]], [[side-striped jackal|side-striped]] and [[black-backed jackal]]s, [[African golden wolves]], [[bat-eared fox]] and smaller carnivores.

The diversity of species is decreasing in the Kitengela area adjacent to the Nairobi National Park,
where land-uses not compatible with wildlife are increasing.

== Kitengela town ==
[[File:Kajiado County in Nairobi Metro.png|thumb|Kajiado County (blue) within Nairobi Metro (green)]]
Kitengela is a town in [[Kajiado County]] just {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} south of Nairobi and is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Kitengela is one of the fastest growing urban areas of Kenya according to census data of 2019, having tripled in population inflows since 2009. It has an urban population of 154,436 people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020 |title=Data shows Kenya has a youthful rural population |url=https://kenyanwallstreet.com/census-2019-datashows-kenya-has-a-youthful-rural-population/ |access-date=26 June 2020 |newspaper=The Kenyan Wall Street}}</ref>

Kitengela is close to [[Athi River (town)|Athi River town]] in [[Machakos]] County in the former [[Eastern Province (Kenya)|Eastern Province]], while Kitengela belongs to Kajiado County in the former [[Rift Valley Province]]. Kitengela is growing quickly and is expanding with a huge influx of middle class Nairobians who have built lovely gated communities and businesses in an unprecedented construction boom, thanks to the affordable land compared to Nairobi city as well as availability of 5 cement companies and growing infrastructural amenities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ever wondered why Kitengela boomed as Athi River faltered? Now you know|url=http://www.kenyafreepress.com/magazine/lifestyle/3321/ever-wondered-why-kitengela-boomed-as-athi-river-faltered--now-you-know|access-date=2020-06-26|website=kenyafreepress.com}}</ref> Residents describe Kitengela as "having the best of both worlds," given its close proximity to Nairobi but easy-going slow-paced rural feel, as well as the friendly, collaborative nature of the resident population.

Kitengela is famous for ''[[nyama choma]]'' (roast meat) – a Kenyan delicacy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lumu|first=David|title=Kitengela, Nairobi's hidden gem for tasty nyama choma|url=https://observer.ug/lifestyle/58714-kitengela-nairobi-s-hidden-gem-for-tasty-nyama-choma|access-date=2020-06-26|website=The Observer – Uganda}}</ref> The town has a wide variety of restaurants that serve this delicacy. Some of the most famous ones include the famous Yukos,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nyanchama|first=Venic|date=2019-10-14|title=15 best nyama choma joints in Nairobi|url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/318471-15-nyama-choma-joints-nairobi.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.}}</ref> Enkare, Arusha Meat Den and numerous more.

Kitengela has a wide variety of financial institutions and saccos (savings and credit cooperatives) that have flooded the town to finance the construction boom as well as cater to the soaring middle class population.  It also has seen a boom in posh hotels, clubs and other entertainment facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wanzala|first=James|title=Kitengela grows amidst infrastructural constraints|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000123608/kitengela-grows-amidst-infrastructural-constraints|access-date=2020-06-26|website=The Standard}}</ref> In recent times Kitengela has developed a reputation for new, unique cutting-edge entertainment facilities such as Charlie's Bistro, Sparrows, Quiver, Guru, and 034, a 5 star club nestled in an airplane have sprung up in the town – a first for Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web|first=John |last=Mbati |date=30 May 2020|title=Inside Ksh8M Boeing Plane Turned into Night Club [Video]|url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/53766-inside-ksh8m-boeing-plane-turned-night-club-video|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Kenyans.co.ke}}</ref>

As Kitengela's middle class population has boomed, so has its wide variety of high end schools and universities to cater to the children of the middle classes. Some of the schools include Kitengela International Schools, Acacia Crest, Chuna Preparatory, Orchard Schools, Nova Pioneer Kitengela and numerous more. Some of the universities and colleges include KCA University Kitengela campus, Kitengela Institute of Management Studies, KAG East University, East African University, RAF International University among others.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Universities in Kitengela|url=https://www.kenyaplex.com/universities/universities-by-location/kitengela|access-date=2020-06-26|website=kenyaplex.com}}</ref>

Kitengela's gated communities for the middle classes include Chuna, Milimani, Royal Gates, New Valley, Muigai Prestige, New World Gardens, Safaricom 1 & 2 estates, Police Sacco Estate, EPZ estate, Fountain View, Riverside, Upper Valley, Kenpipe Gardens, Acacia and many more. These estates have seen an unprecedented boom due to the fact that most of them are controlled, not allowing unsightly flats or small businesses/kiosks within their gated walls. Chuna Estate, Royal Finesse and Royal Gates are considered among the best organised of them but many more are coming up each year. With the construction and completion of Isinya pipeline road, as well as the ongoing construction of the Mlolongo to Waiyaki Way expressway, as well as Konza City Metropolis nearby, Kitengela is poised to experience even more growth and development.

Kitengela is served by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Athi River SGR station as well as a future commuter rail station that is currently under construction that will connect commuters to Nairobi CBD.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 December 2018 |title=Kitengela gets commuter train to ease jam on Mombasa Road|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/counties/Kitengela-commuter-train-ease-jam-Mombasa-Road/4003142-4893382-k0bvj1/index.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Business Daily}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Acacia Crest Academy]]
*[[Isinya]], a town located south of Kitengela

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nairobi metropolitan area}}
{{First and second-level administrative divisions of Kenya}}

[[Category:Populated places in Kajiado County]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kenya]]
[[Category:Plains of Africa]]