Twin Histories of JAMHURI (TUDC) and STAREHE ESTATES – Thika’s Old Soul in Modern Turmoil

By Jaymo Wa Thika,

Driving down Kenyatta Highway in Thika, one is flanked by an unlikely duo of estates that have quietly but defiantly shaped the town’s urban fabric: Jamhuri Estate (TUDC) and Starehe Estate.

Though modest in size and often overlooked by newer high-rise neighbourhoods, these two estates are living chronicles of Kenya’s post-independence urban planning.

They were founded on similar dreams, that is, to house an emerging African urban workforce, but they tell distinct stories of resilience, evolution and the threat of erasure in the name of development. 

Together, they are known locally as part of JAMOFASTA (Jamhuri, Ofafa, Starehe), a social, political and cultural union of old Thika estates with shared histories and intertwined futures.

Jamhuri Estate (TUDC)

Constructed between 1961 and 1963, Jamhuri Estate, fondly known as TUDC, after the Thika Urban Development Corporation, was one of the first African housing schemes post-independence. The estate's name, "Jamhuri," which means Republic, was a deliberate tribute to Kenya’s newly declared republic status in 1963.

Original Residents

Jamhuri housed municipal staff, factory workers, civil servants and ex-soldiers, selected through a formal allocation system. The stone or mabati-roofed units had piped water and basic sanitation, a major step up from neighbouring informal settlements like Majengo.

Location

Jamhuri sits along Kenyatta Highway, bordered by Starehe and Ofafa estates, Jamhuri Primary and Secondary Schools, Jamhuri Market, and Kimilili Garage/Jua Kali. It also shares Thika Community Hall and Starehe grounds (now eaten up by the governments Affordable housing programme).

Across Kenyatta Highway, TUDC is adjacent to part of Majengo estate.

The estate falls under Starehe Sub-Location in Biashara Location of Thika Municipality in Thika Town Constituency.

Politically it is in Hospital Ward of Kiambu County.

Population & Conditions

Originally designed for fewer than 100 households, Jamhuri now holds between 1,500 to 2,500 residents.

Over the years, the houses have been subdivided into single rooms and rental units. The area infrastructure is failing, space is congested and the local economy leans heavily on informal trades.

Starehe Estate

Starehe Estate was established in the early 1970s and named after the Kiswahili word "starehe" meaning comfort or rest.

Unlike Ofafa’s compact, barrack-style rows, Starehe homes were designed with comfort in mind: slightly larger units, modest gardens, and enough breathing room between plots. It’s this serene planning that gave the estate its name — a promise of rest, peace, and comfort.

It was built to offer dignified, low-density housing for middle-income African workers, such as civil servants, teachers, and council staff. Its design was less crowded than Ofafa or Jamhuri, with spacious plots and self-contained units.

Location & Identity

Located along Kenyatta Highway, Starehe is neighboured by Ofafa and Jamhuri estates and sits opposite Biafra and Majengo Estates across the other side of Kenyatta Highway.

It is also bordered by Thika High School, the former Starehe Grounds (Butuu) and Thika Community Hall, with which it shares public space separated only by a narrow estate road.

Just like Ofafa and Jamhuri estates, the estate is within Starehe Sub-location, Biashara Location, under Hospital Ward of  Thika Town Constituency in Kiambu County.

Present Day Starehe

The estate is now home to second- and third-generation families of the original tenants, pensioners and a growing number of renters. Homes have been subdivided and extended into rental units, a response to economic necessity and the housing demand.

Many original tenants or owners have aged and opted to subdivide houses to accommodate their adult children or extended family within the same plot.

A significant number of Starehe homeowners have converted parts of their homes into rental units to earn passive income, especially as land value around Kenyatta Highway has risen.

Common challenges facing Jamhuri and Starehe Estates

1. Aging Infrastructure

Both estates were built in the 1960s and 1970s and their original water, sewer and road systems have not been significantly upgraded. Frequent pipe bursts and sewage blockages are now common.

The estate bear unpaved or worn-out access roads  which make transport difficult, especially during the rainy season.

2. House Subdivision & Overcrowding

Originally built as single-family units, most homes have since been subdivided into multiple rental rooms or bedsitters.

This densification has led to the overuse of the available toilets and water points, limited privacy and shared spaces and at times tensions between landlords and tenants, who mostly are students in the neighbouring institutions.

3. Economic Hardships

Many original families depended on now-defunct factories like BAT, KTM, Kenya Canners, or municipal jobs. With industrial decline, most residents today rely on Jua Kali trades, casual labour, hawking, or bodaboda transport.

Youth unemployment is a pressing issue.

4. Poor Waste Management & Sanitation

Garbage collection is inconsistent or absent, leading to illegal dumping in open spaces or drains, health concerns such as mosquito breeding, rats, and unpleasant odours. Some areas lack proper designated waste collection points.

5. Land Tenure Insecurity

Many residents, especially descendants of original tenants and second generation occupants, lack formal allotment letters. This creates anxiety over eviction, exclusion from redevelopment negotiations, disputes over inheritance or subletting, among other challenges.

6. Redevelopment Pressure / Eviction Threats

Both estates are under threat of demolition under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).

Key concerns include the lack of community consultation, fear of relocation without compensation and being priced out of the new high-rise developments.

7. Insecurity & Social Decay

With overcrowding and limited estate oversight, both estates experience, petty crime, drug abuse and early pregnancy among idle teens and youth, domestic disputes and poor street lighting especially at night

8. Lack of Public Amenities

Originally planned with play areas and open spaces, these are now occupied by the new affordable housing units (Butuu). Other spaces have been converted into kiosks, illegal structures, parking or rental plots

There's a shortage of playgrounds, social halls, or community centres (the current one under the threat of being demolished to pave way for the affordable housing units), despite the growing youth population.

JAMOFASTA: A Shared Destiny

What binds Jamhuri and Starehe, along with Ofafa is more than location. These estates share:

• Common polling stations - Jamhuri Primary School and Thika Community Hall

•  A shared history of public housing

•  Youth unemployment and overcrowding

•  Threats of  eviction and redevelopment

•  A grassroots movement of solidarity and advocacy among other issues.

Together, JAMOFASTA is not just a geographic acronym, it is a socio-political bloc, a shared identity and now a movement for dignity and justice in urban redevelopment.

Conclusion

Jamhuri and Starehe Estates are not relics to be swept aside. They are living monuments, filled with the laughter, struggle and dreams of Kenya’s early urban generations. 

As Thika plans its future, these estates must be part of the vision, not obstacles to be cleared, but legacies to be elevated.

If redevelopment must come, let it come with respect, compensation and inclusion. Because when you walk through Jamhuri or Starehe, you are not just stepping on land. You’re walking through the soul of a people, a town and a nation’s journey toward dignity.