Eldoret, Kenya’s fifth city, is home to over 20 residential estates.
Just like any other urban area in the country, the estates have unique names which equally unique origin and meaning.
From Munyaka to Langas and Maili Name, Uasin Gishu News takes a look at the origin and meaning of some of the Eldoret estates’ names.
What is the origin of Langas estate?
Langas is one of the biggest informal settlements in Eldoret City. The estate is largely home to low and middle-income earners.
The name Langas is believed to have been derived from the Maasai family/clan name Ole Lankas.
Kapseret
This is a fast-rising estate largely populated by the working and middle classes. Its name comes from the Kalenjin word for couch grass (a type of tough, creeping grass).
Kipkaren estate
Kipkaren is one of the oldest estates in Eldoret. The name translates roughly to “a place of weapons.”
Local tradition holds that the estate was named Kipkaren as it marks the spot where Nandi and Maasai warriors buried their arms after a major battle, as a gesture of peace and truce.
What is the origin of Munyaka estate?
Munyaka is a Kikuyu word meaning “luck” or “good fortune.”
The area was originally settled by Kikuyu community families who had been displaced from the Musekekwa and Sabor forests in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Pioneer estate
Pioneer is home to a majority of the middle class.
The estate was named in honour of the Boer (Afrikaner) pioneers who settled in the Eldoret area during the early colonial period.
Huruma estate
The name was adopted from the well-known Huruma Estate in Nairobi, as many early residents were migrants who had lived in the capital.
Kamukunji estate
Same to Huruma, the name was also borrowed from Nairobi’s Kamukunji area. It was initially settled largely by railway workers.
Roadblock (Rodii)
The estate was named after a famous security roadblock that once stood in the area
Tairi Mbili
Tairi Mmbili is a Swahili word loosely translated to “two tyres,”
The estate got its name from two old vehicle tyres that were placed along the road in the area as a marker.
Maili Nne
Swahili for “four miles,” the estates indicate the estate’s distance from Eldoret’s Central Business District.
Maili Tisa
Swahili for “nine miles,” similarly referencing its distance from the town centre.
Kahoya estate
Named after the Kahoya construction company that once had its base of operations in the area.
Jerusalem
Took its name from the first shop established there, which was called “Jerusalem.”
Action estate
The name is derived from the Action Land Buying Company, which subdivided and sold plots in the neighbourhood.
Subaru
Located near the Eldoret War Cemetery, the estate was named after the first shop in the area, known as “Subaru.”
Where did the name Hawaii estate come from?
Located along the Eldoret-Iten Road, the estate’s name was inspired by a popular nightclub called “Hawaii” that operated in the area during the 1990s.
Peris
The estate was named after the shop owned by a woman locally known as Mama Peris.
Annex
The estate is located along the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway.
Its name originated from the nearby Moi University Law School Annex campus.
Rehema
Named after the Rehema Land Buying Company, which played a key role in acquiring and subdividing land for settlement in the area.
Elgon View Estate
The estate originated in the 1940s as an exclusive residential area for white settlers. It is named for its scenic views of Mount Elgon.
