| Official Name: | Kileleshwa |
| Pushpin Map: | Kenya |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Kileleshwa in Kenya |
| Coordinates: | -1.2769°N 36.7931°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Kenya |
| Subdivision Type1: | County |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nairobi City |
| Subdivision Type2: | Sub-county |
| Subdivision Name2: | Westlands |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.3 |
| Population Total: | 22216 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Population Density Km2: | 4229 |
Kileleshwa is a residential neighbourhood in the city of Nairobi. It is located approximately 5.2km (03.2miles) from Nairobi's central business district. The neighbourhood was originally a low-density leafy suburb but after a change in zoning regulations in the early 2000s, there has been significant mushrooming of high-rise flats in the area. It hosts mainly the upper middle class segment of Nairobi residents.
Kileleshwa is located approximately 5km (03miles) west of Nairobi's central business district, within the larger sub-county of Westlands. It is east of Lavington; south of Muthangari, and west of Kilimani, mainly separated by the Kirichwa River.
Kileleshwa hosts a significant population of the upper middle income population of Nairobi.[1] The neighbourhood has historically been primarily low-density residential, but since the early 2000s, Kileleshwa and its environs have become increasingly high-density mixed residential and commercial; both retail and offices, due to the zoning laws in the area being changed.[2] [3] [4] Some of the high-rise buildings have been built contrary to the county's bylaws and have been characterised as vertical slums due to them burdening the existing laid infrastructure.[5] [6] Residents of Kilimani and Kileleshwa have also raised concerns about the increasing number of nightclubs in the areas.[7]
In March 2024, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja proposed a re-zoning that would allow the construction of buildings up to 75 floors in Kilimani, Kilelelshwa, and Lavington.[8]
Kileleshwa, an electoral ward within the Dagoretti North Constituency, borrows its name from the estate, encompassing other estates and neighbourhoods such as: Chiromo, Groganville, Kileleshwa, Muthangari and Riverside.[9]
As per the 2019 census, Kileleshwa had a population of 22,216, with a population density of 4,229/km2 in a land area of 5.3km2.[10]
Over the past two decades, Kileleshwa has experienced rapid urbanisation, marked by a surge in high-rise apartment buildings. Originally a low-density area, zoning law adjustments in the early 2000s allowed for more intensive development.[11] This has led to mixed reactions from residents, with some appreciating the area's accessibility while others decry the strain on local infrastructure. The proliferation of high-rise flats has also significantly impacted property values, making Kileleshwa a popular residential area for upper-middle-class residents.