The Story of Majengo Estate, Thika

By Jaymo Wa Thika

Historical Background

Majengo Estate is among the oldest residential settlements in Thika, dating back to the early 1900s. It was developed during the colonial era as housing for African labourers working in nearby European-owned farms, industries and the railway line. 

The name Majengo Swahili for "structures" or "buildings" originated from the early rows of low-cost housing that defined the estate's landscape. 

The first settlers were predominantly Swahili, Nubian, Somali, and Borana Muslim communities who moved inland in search of work. The majority were employed as porters, cooks, guards, and farm workers.

Over time, they established mosques, madrassas and cultural practices that gave Majengo a strong Islamic identity.

🕰️ Original Location – “Old Majengo”

Before Majengo was settled in its current location, the original Majengo is said to have been located in the area now occupied by Chania High School, parts of Section 9 and near the current Thika AP Lines.

This area was at the time part of the peripheral zone of colonial Thika town — with simple worker structures, squatter homes and mud houses for African labourers, especially those working for the railway, the white settler farms and the early industries such as bakeries, textile stores and municipal work.

The relocation of Majengo happened during the colonial-to-post-independence transition, mainly in the late 1950s to early 1960s, and was driven by three main factors:

(i) Colonial Urban Zoning & Segregation

The colonial administration began implementing more formal urban planning policies.

They re-designated the original Majengo zone for:

(a) Government infrastructure (e.g., police housing, administrative offices)

(b) Educational institutions like Chania High School

Africans living in informal, unplanned housing were considered “squatters” and were evicted without proper compensation or consultation.

(ii) Establishment of “Modern” Estates

Post-independence plans for Thika included setting up more structured estates like:

(a) Section 9 for civil servants

(b) Ofafa for mid-income families

As part of this development, slum clearance was carried out in what was the original Majengo zone.

The residents of the Old Majengo were forcefully or gradually moved out and resettled on land further away — where today’s Majengo Estate now exists.

(iii) Deliberate Segregation by Religion and Class

The colonial authorities and early post-colonial planners sought to group communities by religion, tribe or income class.

The largely Muslim population, many of Swahili, Somali, and Nubian origin, were seen as different and were resettled together in one area — today’s Majengo.

The new site was less central, more swampy, and near a river (Chania), with fewer resources — making it a marginalised area from the beginning.

Communities had to rebuild homes, mosques, and social structures from scratch.

It led to the establishment of Jamia Mosque, Majengo Islamic Centre, and Majengo estate in the new location, creating a new version of Majengo — one still standing today.

Location and Administrative Boundaries

Majengo lies East of Thika CBD, bordered by Kenyatta Highway and connected to other estates through a network of tarmac and murram roads.

This puts Majengo right in the urban heart of Thika, under the jurisdiction of the Thika Municipality, making it strategically positioned near both the industrial zone and CBD.

It falls within Majengo Sub-location, Township/Biashara Location in Thika Municipality Division of Thika Town Constituency. Politically, it is in Hospital Ward in Kiambu County.

Neighbouring Estates and Facilities

Majengo estate neighbours

•  Jamhuri Estate (T.U.D.C)

•  Biafra Estate – A mixed-income zone

•  Ofafa and Starehe estates – middle-income residential areas

•  Jamhuri Market – a major economic center

•  Chania River – bordering Del Monte

Schools, Landmarks and Key Facilities

Schools

• Thika Primary School 

• Thika Muslim Primary School

• Majengo Islamic Centre (Madrassa)

• St. Patrick's Primary School

Landmarks

• Jamia Mosque Thika – major religious center

• Central Memorial Hospital – next to the estate

• Chania River – forms a natural boundary

• Del Monte Pineapple Farm – across the river

• Jamhuri Market – a key farm produce (cereals) and livestock (chicken) market just adjacent

• U-Shop Shopping Centre – serves the local and surrounding estates

Key areas of Majengo:

These two spots Base ya Miraa and Majengo Centre form part of the social rhythm of Majengo. One provides a laid-back social experience, while the other serves as a hub for business, interaction, and movement.

Majengo Centre, which sits next to Thika Primary School, marks as the central point to the estate. It is considered the unofficial "CBD" of Majengo.

Some of the features include: Shops, vibandas, halal butcheries, food kiosks, and tailoring stalls and Bodaboda Stage

Miraa Base (Base ya Miraa)

It is located near the edge of Majengo estate and close to the main road and known locally as "Base ya Waliokaa" or "Kijiwe ya Miraa".

This is a common gathering spot for miraa (khat) chewers, especially men aged 20–50 who meet in the evenings after work.

They chew miraa while discussing politics, football, and street gossip while listening to Swahili taarab music and reggae.

Occasionally, it doubles up as a makeshift job corner (watu wa mjengo waiting for day jobs).

It’s considered a relaxed zone but often under the radar of authorities for occasional petty crime monitoring.

It is the meeting point for residents heading to mosque or Majengo Islamic Centre. It’s also the usual spot for community notices, lost-and-found updates, and election mobilisation.

Majengo Ya Chini – (Mathara-ini)

Majengo ya Chini (literally "Lower Majengo") is a well-known subsection of Majengo Estate, and it carries its own identity within the larger estate.

It refers to the lower-lying section of Majengo, geographically situated closer to the Chania River and near the Del Monte boundary.

Due to its topography, it vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains, poor drainage and has narrower access roads and more informal housing structures than the upper part of Majengo

It is often associated with jobless youth, lower-income earners and seasonal workers.

Some of the key spots include small vibanda eateries (serving githeri, ugali-mboga, and Swahili snacks), Miraa chewing spots common in the evenings, pool table joints and gaming corners popular among youth.

There are also unofficial bodaboda bases operating from makeshift shelters.

You also notice youth idleness and substance abuse in pockets, inadequate street lighting at night

It is often referred to as "base ya life hard", where hustle is real, seen by some outsiders as “rough” but embraced by residents as real, humble and full of life

It's where many dreams are built from the ground from street vending, to carwash to starting a bodaboda business.

Majengo Social Hall 

This forms the heart of community engagement.

Situated centrally in Majengo, within walking distance of most parts of the estate and easily accessible via footpaths from Kwa Lami and Majengo Chini.

The Majengo Social Hall serves as a community multipurpose center for: Public meetings (barazas) with local leaders or county reps, Community training sessions (health, security, civic education, GBV awareness), Youth and women empowerment programs, Religious and interfaith forums and occasionally used for weddings, memorial services, and public screenings (especially football matches)

The facility basically consists of a main hall space with chairs and a small podium, basic sound system (sometimes borrowed or rented for events), and also as a storage room for community tools and cleaning equipment.

There is also a Majengo Youth Office. The Nucleus of Youth Initiatives adjacent to or within the same compound as the Social Hall which is overseen by the Thika Sub-county Youth Office, in partnership with Hospital Ward Administration.

The Majengo Youth Office is a critical space for local youth and CBOs (Community-Based Organizations). 

The Social Hall and Youth Office have become safe spaces where the voice of the ghetto youth is heard. They've played a key role in reducing crime, radicalisation, and drug abuse by giving youth alternatives and leadership roles.

They have also been used to empower many young people to become mentors, coaches, bodaboda union reps, and even aspiring politicians.

Mishomoroni

Mishomoroni is an informal nickname referring inner zone of Majengo, often viewed as “deep Majengo.”

It is located in the inner backstreets of Majengo behind the main mosque area or below the main road line. Accessed via small footpaths branching off from the main road, it is known for its narrow corridors and tight-knit social life.

This is the place where real hustlers live casual workers, single-room tenants, vendors and shoe shiners. It is commonly associated with "vitu kwa ground" (life on the ground) meaning daily hustle, hardship, and survival.

It is sometimes monitored by authorities for illicit brew, petty crime or drug issues. Still, many residents of Mishomoroni are hardworking and form a core part of Majengo’s labour force.

Why Is It Home to Many Muslims?

Majengo’s status as a Muslim-majority estate stems from the early Muslim communities who migrated inland and settled there. It is also due the establishment of mosques, madrasas, and halal businesses.

There has been a preservation of these religious traditions, which attracted successive generations of Muslims seeking a culturally familiar environment.

Economic/Social Activities

Majengo remains characterised by aging, informal housing due to historical neglect in planning and infrastructure upgrades as well as family inheritance disconnect in acquiring ownership documents from the original home owners who most of them have died.

Its population consists of mostly low-income earners unable to finance major renovations.

Majengo hosts small-scale traders, hawkers and street vendors, informal workers, casual labourers, mechanics, bodaboda riders, artisans, Muslim clerics and madrassa teachers.

The main economic activities include street vending (fruits, vegetables, cooked food), Halal butchery, food stalls, tailoring, welding, mechanics (Jua Kali), informal transport (bodabodas and tuktuks), secondhand clothes dealers (mitumba), among others.

Key Challenges

Among some of the challenges in living in Majengo include poor housing quality, overcrowding, inadequate solid waste disposal, high levels of youth unemployment, limited healthcare and social amenities, teenage pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse among some youth.

Positive Aspects of Majengo

The residents of Majengo boast of a very strong bond with a tight-knit community and a history of mutual support.

Their proximity to CBD, schools, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Jamhuri Market, Kimilili Garage and factories, give them advantage to job opportunities among others essential services.

They also have a vibrant youth culture and growing entrepreneurship.

Conclusion:

Majengo remains a significant yet underserved neighborhood in Thika. Its historic origins, cultural richness, and strategic location near key institutions like U-Shop, Central Memorial Hospital, and Jamhuri Market, make it a vital part of the urban ecosystem.

Despite challenges in housing and infrastructure, its community spirit, religious values, and economic hustle continue to give it life.