10 Reasons to Invest in Eldoret

Eldoret has a lot more to offer than just good weather and fertile land. We have half a million people living in Eldoret, an international airport, several of the best hospitals and hotels in the region, multiple universities, and industries. One in fifty Kenyans lives in Uasin Gishu.

It was the Afrikaners who first founded the town of Eldoret in 1903, but they were soon joined by Indians like the Lochabs, the Shah’s and the Rai‘s who have been doing business here ever since. So here is why Eldoret is home to some of the most prime real estate in the entire Western Kenya region:

1.     Location

Eldoret is one of the most strategic locations in Kenya. The town is connected to Kampala through the highway to Malaba. Eldoret is also connected to Nairobi through the airport, as well as Dubai through the cargo flights that return carrying horticultural produce from the region.

So whether you are looking to import, export, or trade locally, Eldoret can work for you.

2.     Prime Real Estate

Eldoret town is home to some of the most prime real estate in Western Kenya. It is not by accident that most of the present and former Governors and Senators from the larger Western Kenya have a home in Eldoret town.

The value of the properties in Eldoret town wen

3.     Education

Universities have played a major role in turning Eldoret into the cosmopolitan that it is today. Since Moi University was established in 1985, other universities have set up shop. They include the University of Eldoret, Catholic University, Mount Kenya University, Kisii University, and Eldoret Polytechnic, among others.

For Primary and secondary education, parents now have a range of schools offering the British and American curriculum as well as the Kenyan education system.

4.     Medical Services

Besides the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret is home to several leading hospitals in Western Kenya and people from the region flock to Eldoret for medical treatment.

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Kenya. It is only smaller than the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. Other major hospitals include St. Lukes, Eldoret Hospital, Rapha, Mediheal, Fountain, and Memorial Hospitals among many others.

Eldoret has one of the best Oncology centers in Western Kenya and patients come to Eldoret from other counties to seek treatment.

Shoe4Africa, the only public Children’s Hospital in the entire East African region is located within the MTRH campus.

5.     Industries

Traditionally, Eldoret is home to food processing industries like flour milling and milk processing. In recent times we have seen major investments in other industries like textiles and energy.

Safaricom, the most profitable company in Kenya has set up a Call Center in Eldoret. Toyota Kenya spent $4 million setting up a facility in Eldoret. Baraka Fertilizer is manufactured in Ngeria on the outskirts of Eldoret and Rivatex an old giant that reopened a few years ago is going strong and even expanding to other counties.  Timber processors like Rai have been in Eldoret since the beginning of the 20^th century.

The people of Eldoret have now enjoyed more than a decade of uninterrupted peace, in spite going through three elections. The future is good.

There are plans to put up other massive investments in Eldoret, including a solar power plant and an Industrial Park.

There are at least three flower farms in the area that produce fresh flowers for export and local market.

6.     Infrastructure

Before the arrival of the railway line and the Boer settlers, Eldoret was a grazing land for the Uasin Gishu clan.

The railway to Uganda reached Eldoret in 1924. Since then, we have built a highway, an airport, and an airstrip, and there is even a solar plant in the works.

Uganda road which is the main artery of the Eldoret CBD goes all the way to the Malaba border and into Uganda. It brings with it imports from Uganda and takes products like passion fruit and carrots to Uganda.

Eldoret International Airport has local passenger flights to Nairobi and Mombasa. Cargo flights to and from Dubai also operate at the Eldoret International Airport. From Eldoret Airstrip you can take a flight to Lodwar.

Commuters travel by bus from Eldoret to all destinations within Kenya as well as Uganda, Rwanda, and Juba.

7.     Population

Eldoret has one of the most youthful and cosmopolitan populations in Kenya. This is driven by the proliferation of colleges and universities that nurture an energetic workforce made up of people from all over Kenya, many of whom choose to remain in Eldoret to work or do business.

A good 80% of the people living in Eldoret are youth who are the energetic and educated workforce.

The people of Eldoret come from different communities: the Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, and Kisii. The Indian families who first came here in 1908 are still here and they have been joined by more Indians.

There are also Somali and South Sudanese communities living in Eldoret.

8.     Modern Residential Estates

Eldoret town is home to many modern and organized residential estates like Elgon View, Kapsoya, Langas, Kipkaren, West Indies, Kahoya, Huruma, Action, and Pioneer. Other less organized but upcoming estates include Annex and Marura. 

These estates are full of residential homes. Many of them have tarmacked roads and pedestrian walks to make transport easier. Rental costs range from a high of 60,000 to as low as 2,500. As a general rule, residential areas further away from the CBD are cheap and those closer to the CBD are more expensive.

9.     Shopping and Entertainment

For a long time, there weren’t many options for shopping in Eldoret. There were only a few small supermarkets and the only cinema in town had been closed for many years.

Today, there is a new cinema and two large shopping malls which reflect the growth of a middle class with considerable spending power.

In terms of leisure, Eldoret town has seen major investments in hotels and resorts within the last 10 or so years.

10. Leisure and Tourism

Instead of just one large hotel, visitors to Eldoret now have several four-star and three-star to choose from. Devolved governments have created an opportunity for hotels in Eldoret to host meetings and conferences for County officials from all the counties in Kenya.

When it comes to good food, shopping, movies, and sports, Eldoret now has more options than ever before.

As the capital city of athletics in Kenya, Eldoret sees more than its fair share of marathons in a year. Eldoret is also home to a rugby team Eldoret FC.

Eldoret has earned the moniker ‘city of champions’ thanks to the many professional long-distance runners who live here.

So if you are wondering whether it is worth it to buy a plot or a farm in Eldoret, you now have reasons.