KARIBU KENYA - UNON - the United Nations Office at Nairobi

CHAPTER 5: AT HOME
At Home in Nairobi
Housing
Most United Nations employees are expected to find their own homes
from commercially available properties. You will pay rents directly to your
landlord, and also negotiate the costs of repairs and maintenance with them.
Like most cities in the world, Kenyan lease agreements put the onus on landlords
for the maintenance of the house’s infrastructure and the payment of rates
and taxes, while the tenant is expected to take care of routine maintenance and
‘wear and tear’.The tenant is also responsible for paying all utility bills.
Before seeking housing, employees are advised to approach the UN’s
Security and Safety Service in G-Block to avail themselves of the latest information
on residential security conditions.As well as advising you on the nature
of a particular area, the Security and Safety Service will be able to inform you
about the local coverage of private security firms, the availability of water and
electricity, the nature of the commute from Gigiri and your children’s schools,
and what measures you might need to take to make a property secure for your
family (see Chapter 4). Staff members are usually advised to arrive in Nairobi
before their dependents in order to have time to find suitable accommodation.
Finding a House
Popular areas of expatriate housing include the area around Gigiri and the
Runda Estate, the upmarket suburb of Muthaiga, Spring Valley, Loresho,
Westlands, Riverside Drive, Nyari Estate and Lavington. Other reasonable and
pleasant housing is available in Hurlingham, Kilimani, Kileleshwa and the
State House area. Some people prefer to live in the green environs of Karen
and Langata, which are located to the south of Nairobi, roughly 15 km from
Gigiri, and enjoy close proximity to Nairobi National Park and several other
natural attractions (see Chapter 9).
The best way to find residential accommodation is either by word of
mouth or by looking at the noticeboards at the Gigiri Complex, or at the
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