If you are looking at houses to rent in Kamakis, this guide covers what daily life there is like. Kamakis sits along the Eastern Bypass and is best known for its roadside eateries and nyama choma (roast meat) spots. In recent years many new apartment blocks have gone up. Living in Kamakis can suit you well if you want a newer house and can live with a bypass commute.
Kamakis at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Along the Eastern Bypass, north-east of Nairobi |
| Housing | Mostly new apartments, plus some older flats and bungalows nearby |
| Known for | Eateries, nyama choma and a busy evening scene |
| Rent on ISHI Homes | No listings published yet, as of 26 Oct 2026 |
We are not quoting rents for Kamakis yet. As of 26 Oct 2026, no Kamakis houses are live on ISHI Homes. Live houses will appear on the Kamakis area page as agencies list them. Check there for current prices before you decide.
Who it suits and who it does not
It may suit you if:
- You want a newer apartment, often with parking.
- You work along the Eastern Bypass, Thika Road or the Ruiru side.
- You like having food spots and a social scene close by.
- You drive, or are fine using matatus (shared minibuses) on the bypass.
It may not suit you if:
- You need a quiet street at night, especially near the main eatery area.
- You work in the Nairobi CBD or Westlands and dislike long traffic jams.
- You need a fixed, reliable water supply with no backup.
Getting around
The Eastern Bypass is the main road. It links Kamakis to Thika Road on one side and towards Ruai and the Embakasi side on the other. Matatus run along the bypass, and boda bodas (motorbike taxis) cover short trips into estates.
Things to check before you rent:
- Rush hour traffic. Drive or ride the route at the time you would actually travel, morning and evening.
- Walk to the stage. Some new apartments sit off the main road on murram (dirt) roads. Check how far you walk to catch a matatu.
- Rainy season. Ask neighbours if the access road gets muddy or floods.
- Late-night transport. If you come home late, find out if matatus or boda bodas still run.
Water and power
Water is the big question in many new estates on the Nairobi outskirts. Ask the landlord or caretaker:
- Is the house on the county water supply, a borehole, or both?
- How many days a week does county water come?
- Is there a storage tank, and how big is it?
- Who pays for water bowsers (tanker trucks) if supply runs out?
- Is water billed per unit or a flat monthly fee?
For power, ask whether the house has its own prepaid token meter. A shared meter can lead to disputes over bills. Ask neighbours how often outages happen.
Safety
Safety changes from one street and building to another. Do not rely on general claims. Check these yourself:
- Is there a guard, a gate and a working perimeter wall?
- Are the stairs, parking and access road well lit?
- How busy and noisy is the area at night, especially near the eatery strip?
- Talk to two or three tenants in the building. Ask what they like and what worries them.
Visit once in the day and once in the evening if you can.
Shopping and daily life
Kamakis is known for its restaurants, bars and roast meat joints, so eating out is easy. Day-to-day shopping is usually covered by small shops, kiosks and mama mboga (vegetable sellers) near the estates. Bigger supermarkets and malls are found along Thika Road and in nearby towns.
The lively food scene is a plus for many people. But if your house is close to it, expect music and traffic on weekends.
Schools and health
There are private and public schools and clinics in and around the area. We do not name them here. Instead:
- Visit any school you are considering and ask about fees, transport and term dates.
- Find the nearest clinic and the nearest hospital with emergency services before you move.
- Check how long the school run takes during peak traffic.
Internet
Many new apartments are already wired for home fibre. Ask the caretaker which providers serve the building, then confirm with the provider that your exact block is covered. Test mobile signal inside the house during the viewing.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Many new apartments | Water supply can vary by estate |
| Good food and social scene | Noise near the eatery area |
| Easy access to the Eastern Bypass and Thika Road | Bypass traffic at peak hours |
| Parking common in new blocks | Some access roads are rough in the rain |
Nearby alternatives
If Kamakis does not fit, compare these areas:
- Kahawa Sukari - an older, more settled estate near Thika Road.
- Kahawa Wendani - busy and close to Thika Road, with many rental flats.
- Kihunguro - on the Ruiru side, with growing apartment blocks.
- Mwiki - closer to Kasarani, with a mix of older and newer housing.
- Ruai - further along the bypass, often with more space.
Check the ISHI Homes area pages for each one to compare live listings.
Before you pay anything
- Never pay before viewing. Do not send a deposit or "booking fee" for a house you have not seen.
- View the house in person. Check the water, power, locks and access road yourself, and meet the caretaker or agent face to face.
- Use verified listings. Find verified houses on ISHI Homes at homes.ishi.digital.
